Former Morocco Star Ouaddou Alleges Unfair Dismissal from MCO Coaching Role

He was only the coach of the MCO for the time of two matches. Abdeslam Ouaddou was fired by the management of the Moroccan club, on January 6, even though he had been hired for 4 seasons. The time spent coaching the team was marked by endless conflicts with the club’s management. Not to mention the scandal around a presumed assault on a driver, which earned him a few days in the hospital. After his stay, the former Nancy player had announced his return to the MCO bench, but against all expectations, he will be pushed out a few hours later.

In a statement, the former player accused the club’s president, Mohamed Houar, of failing to fulfill his contractual commitments. "The unilateral termination of my employment contract, which took the form of a simple information note, was notified to me by a bailiff on Sunday, January 10, 2021. I note that no disciplinary procedure was initiated by the MCO prior to the notification of this unilateral termination," he wrote. He also said that the termination letter does not mention any reason.

For him, the club’s management lacked tact in handling this case. He regrets not having been allowed to show what he is capable of. "Unfortunately, this ambitious project, as it was presented and proposed to me initially by the MCO, has been significantly altered in the first few weeks following my hiring, as the financial reality quickly caught up with the ephemeral ambitions."

He says he is saddened by the silence of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), which, even when solicited to play the role of mediator, could not resolve the problem. "Unfortunately, this attempt at mediation failed as the solution proposed to the parties by the FRMF and which was supposed to be the subject of an addendum to my employment contract was purely and simply one-sided, i.e. in the exclusive interest of the MCO."

It is therefore the refusal to sign such an addendum that led the management to oust the Moroccan technician, "under vexatious conditions". He then thanked the supporters, the players, the various components of the Club and the local authorities for the efforts made to resolve the situation, the same source specifies.