Wydad Athletic Club resolve financial dispute with former Rulani Mokwena signing

Wydad Athletic Club have reportedly settled their financial dispute with former midfielder Mohsine Bedda, who was released shortly after joining the Moroccan club following a decision made by the technical staff led by Rulani Mokwena.

The Moroccan publication Ahdath.info reported that Wydad have paid all the money owed to the Mauritanian player, bringing an end to a disagreement over the termination of his contract.

Bedda joined the Red Castle in July 2024 but left only a few weeks later. The club’s technical team, headed at the time by former coach Mokwena, was reportedly unconvinced by the midfielder’s ability and decided that he would not remain part of the squad.

His departure was completed through a mutual termination of the contract. Bedda subsequently joined Raja Casablanca, one of Wydad’s leading rivals in the Botola Pro League.

The dispute centred on whether Wydad had ended the player’s contract unfairly. Reports in Morocco claimed that the club had been ordered to pay Bedda $45,000, equivalent to about R849,000, as compensation for his unjust termination before the season had even begun.

FIFA was also reported to have given Wydad at least 45 days to settle the debt. The payment deadline was intended to prevent the three-time CAF Champions League winners from facing further sanctions, including a possible ban on registering new players.

Those concerns have now apparently been addressed, with Wydad said to have paid Bedda’s outstanding dues in full.

The case followed a short and troubled spell for the 27-year-old midfielder at the Casablanca club. Bedda’s move in July 2024 had suggested that he would become part of Wydad’s plans, but his time at the club ended before he could establish himself in the team.

Mokwena was in charge of the technical staff when the decision was made to part company with Bedda. The coach’s assessment reportedly played a significant role in the player’s early exit, although the agreement to end the contract was formally described as mutual.

Bedda’s move to Raja Casablanca ensured that he remained in Moroccan football after leaving Wydad. The two clubs are among the country’s most prominent sides, and their rivalry is one of the best-known in African football.

The reported settlement removes the immediate threat of FIFA disciplinary action against Wydad. Before the payment was made, the club risked penalties if it failed to comply with the compensation order within the allotted period.

Wydad have not been reported to face a registration ban after settling the matter. Their payment to Bedda now appears to have closed the dispute involving the midfielder whose short stay at the club began under Mokwena and ended with a move across Casablanca.