Moroccan Football Fans Protest Closed-Door Matches Amid Coronavirus Concerns

The "Black Army" group of supporters of the FAR club described the decision as "stupid" on its Facebook page. It wonders if behind this measure, there is not a lack of resources and logistics to deal with the spread of the virus. "From the point of view of logic and respect for human intelligence and its ability to distinguish and analyze, it is impossible that the reason is the two (coronavirus) cases that were announced. It is something behind the scenes to contain the situation and try to maintain control, so as not to create panic among citizens," the group stressed in its post.

Highly upset by the decision, the group members also described this decision, which targets football and gives credence to other "more dangerous gatherings, in closed spaces such as bars, nightclubs, cafes and restaurants," as "schizophrenic". "We are all citizens, we proudly carry the Moroccan nationality, we always wish that our country is not affected by any evil or disease, and if the situation requires it, you will find us in the front row, mobilized to defend the identity against anyone, and whatever happens; but that certain categories are targeted according to affiliation and orientation, this is what makes us feel targeted and amounts to settling scores," they added.

For its part, the Ultra group "Siempre Paloma", supporter of Moghreb de Tétouan, believes that "football was created and will remain for the stands and the public". It stressed that any attempt to restrict this right with various arguments "constitutes an attack on the basic principle of football". The group acknowledges that mass gatherings promote the spread of the virus, but the problem lies in the fact that "the measure is limited to the gatherings that haunt the authorities in one way or another, such as matches, sit-ins and demonstrations," the group wrote on its Facebook page.

As for the group of Ultras "Orange Boys, supporter of the Renaissance sportive de Berkane, it thinks that the decision of the "empty stadium" is "empty of arguments". It called for supporting the club, by accompanying the team bus, from the players’ residence to the stadium.