Tunisia’s 2-0 defeat to Morocco in Friday’s friendly match in Fez was overshadowed by a fiery post-match outburst from Ali Abdi, who heavily criticised the referee for what he described as a performance that “ruined the match.”
The clash between North African rivals, billed as a symbolic derby between two historically close nations, ended in controversy when Tunisian left-back Abdi was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time for alleged simulation.
The sending-off sparked immediate protest from the OGC Nice defender, who left the pitch visibly frustrated.
Speaking to the Tunisian press after the match, Abdi did not hold back in his assessment of Malian referee Boubou Traoré’s handling of the game.
“I don’t like to hide behind referees,” he said, “but tonight, he ruined the match. This was supposed to be a celebration of football between two brotherly nations.
There was absolutely no justification for a red card in a friendly, especially not for something so trivial. I even got booked again for protesting, and I wasn’t even talking to him directly.”
Abdi’s frustration was not isolated. Many viewers, including supporters from both Tunisia and Morocco, took to social media to express their discontent with the officiating.
The game was punctuated by a staggering 35 fouls, a figure that reflected the stop-start rhythm and lack of fluency throughout the evening. Critics accused the referee of disrupting the tempo and preventing either side from establishing any meaningful rhythm.
Though Morocco eventually broke the deadlock through PSG defender Achraf Hakimi in the 80th minute before Ayoub El Kaabi sealed the result with a goal deep into added time, the spectacle many had anticipated between the two neighbours failed to materialise.
A match expected to highlight technical flair and attacking fluidity instead descended into a choppy affair marred by whistles, protests, and mounting tension.
Ali Abdi’s dismissal, while a major talking point, also drew attention to an earlier incident involving the defender. Observers noted that the Tunisian full-back was fortunate to remain on the pitch earlier in the match after a reckless challenge on Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat.
The referee opted against issuing a card at the time, a decision that could have led to further controversy had it been reviewed more closely.
Despite that reprieve, Abdi’s eventual expulsion reignited questions over the referee’s consistency. For many Tunisian fans, the decision to issue a second yellow in stoppage time—effectively ending Abdi’s night for what appeared to be minimal contact—was emblematic of the officiating struggles throughout the evening.
Morocco, for their part, showed composure in the latter stages, capitalising on their physical and tactical dominance as Tunisia began to tire. Soufiane Rahimi and Hakimi threatened repeatedly in the second half, and it was only a matter of time before their pressure paid off.
Yet, while the Atlas Lions walked away with a deserved win, much of the post-match conversation remained centred on the referee’s performance rather than the football itself.
For Tunisia, and particularly Ali Abdi, the disappointment extended beyond the result. The match was seen as an opportunity to build momentum ahead of upcoming international fixtures. Instead, it ended in frustration, red cards, and a lingering sense of what could have been in a match that never truly found its rhythm.
