Moroccan referee absence from African champions league final raises concerns
The absence of Moroccan referees from the upcoming African Champions League final, pitting Egypt’s Al Ahly against Tunisia’s Esperance in both legs, has sparked concerns among stakeholders.
This void, especially in the realm of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, where Morocco led Africa in its implementation in domestic leagues, has left many baffled.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation now faces mounting pressure to address the apparent deficiency in refereeing quality and to investigate the underlying issues contributing to this absence.
In an interview with “Parliament Sport,” a retired international referee highlighted the prolonged absence of Moroccan referees from final matches over the past few years, urging both the Directorate of Refereeing and the Football Federation to examine the reasons behind this prolonged hiatus.
He called for a review of the pedagogical training and the selection process for individuals obtaining international referee status, suggesting that factors like favoritism and nepotism might influence these decisions.
Despite the Moroccan Football Federation’s adoption of VAR technology, referees’ errors have persisted in league matches. Additionally, recurring protests against referees in Morocco have contributed to tarnishing the image of Moroccan refereeing.
