Raja captain Badr Benoun faces legal threat after controversial derby remarks

Raja Casablanca captain Badr Benoun is facing potential legal action after comments he made following the Casablanca derby sparked outrage from Olympique Club de Safi, who have condemned the remarks as disrespectful and damaging to the club’s reputation.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening after Raja’s 1-0 defeat to Wydad Athletic Club at the Mohammed V Stadium, a match played on the 20th matchday of the Moroccan championship.

What followed at the final whistle has since overshadowed the result, with Benoun’s post-match comments becoming the centre of controversy.

Remarks made after the final whistle

According to reports, tensions emerged as players and officials exchanged handshakes on the pitch and near the dressing rooms following the derby.

During this post-match interaction, Raja’s central defender and captain Badr Benoun addressed Wydad midfielder Abdelghafour Lamirat, a former OC Safi player.

In doing so, he reportedly urged him to move away from what he described as “certain habits from Safi”, suggesting the player now represented “a big club”.

The comments, made in a public setting in front of players, officials and media representatives, were quickly picked up and circulated, prompting immediate backlash.

OC Safi issues strong condemnation

Olympique Club de Safi reacted strongly to the remarks, issuing an official statement through its social media platforms in which it expressed “absolute condemnation” and “strong indignation” at what it described as unacceptable behaviour.

“Following the irresponsible and unacceptable behaviour of Badr Banoun, (…) while shaking hands with a Wydad player, and the provocative and shameful remarks he made, constituting a blatant mockery and deliberate denigration of Olympique de Safi in front of a number of players, officials, and media representatives at the entrance to the locker room, Olympique de Safi expresses its absolute condemnation and strong indignation at this behaviour, which is contrary to ethics and sportsmanship, and has nothing to do with the values of respect and fair competition.”

The club insisted that the comments went beyond a moment of frustration and represented a serious issue that could not be dismissed as a minor incident.

Calls for disciplinary action and investigation

OC Safi further escalated the matter by calling on the relevant football authorities to intervene.

The club has formally requested that the National Professional Football League open an immediate investigation into the incident.

“Consequently, Olympique de Safi calls upon the competent authorities, first and foremost the National Professional Football League, to open an urgent and thorough investigation into this incident, and to take the strict and necessary disciplinary measures against the player concerned (…). The club reserves the right to resort to all legal and regulatory avenues provided for by law in order to defend its reputation, dignity and moral interests, while holding the player concerned fully responsible for the consequences of these reckless actions.”

The statement makes clear that OC Safi views the matter as one requiring formal disciplinary procedures rather than informal resolution.

Growing tension beyond the pitch

The controversy has added an off-field layer of tension to an already intense Casablanca derby, a fixture traditionally marked by strong rivalry between Raja and Wydad.

While the match itself ended in a narrow victory for Wydad, attention has now shifted entirely to the aftermath and the potential consequences for Benoun.

At this stage, it remains unclear what disciplinary steps, if any, will be taken by the league or governing bodies.

The incident has also reignited broader discussions around player conduct in high-profile domestic fixtures, particularly in emotionally charged environments where remarks made in the heat of the moment can quickly escalate into formal disputes.

What happens next

With OC Safi pushing for an investigation and possible sanctions, the matter is now expected to move into the hands of football authorities in Morocco.

For Raja and their captain, the focus will likely remain on managing the fallout from comments that have drawn widespread attention across Moroccan football circles.

As the situation develops, both clubs and league officials may be required to address not only the specific incident involving Benoun, but also the wider standards of conduct expected in Moroccan professional football.