Moroccan Football Official Banned for Life Over Player Blackmail Scandal

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) is continuing its clean-up campaign in women’s football. For some time now, the sector has been shaken by cases of corruption, match-fixing and blackmail against the players. The clean-up by the Moroccan federation has been expected for several weeks.

In a press release published this Tuesday on its official website, the FRMF states that Abdelkrim Labyad is accused of having blackmailed one of his players. He had also brought a reduced number of players to the match his club played against AS FAR on July 6, for the 19th round of the championship.

Not only is he suspended for life, but he has been fined 50,000 dirhams. The Amjad Taroudant club has been given a warning and a fine of 30,000 DH.

Other people have been sentenced to various penalties. The president of the Fnideq Sports Club, Mohamed Sobhi, has been suspended for two months with a suspended sentence and must pay a fine of 20,000 DH for insults against the Qods Taza club on a regional radio station.

The coach of Chabab Larache, Mahjout Lakhal, has been suspended for four years, two of which are suspended, with a fine of 40,000 DH. He is clearly heard on a recording admitting to having received a sum of money from an opponent to "sell" a match.

Since the FRMF began sanctioning officials who have committed various offenses, many female footballers have found the courage to speak out, accusing their officials of blackmail and fraud.