Moroccan Goalkeeper Suspended for Faking Injury to Avoid National Team Duty

Summoned along with other goalkeepers by Houcine Ammouta, the coach of the Moroccan local team, to be part of the team that was to face Algeria on September 21 in the CHAN 2020 qualifying match, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, 23, simply compromised himself.

On the day of the match, Ammouta chose Anas Zniti, the goalkeeper of Raja Casablanca, to guard the starting team’s goal from the first half. Dissatisfied with the coach’s decision, the last bastion of Wydad Casablanca is accused of having simulated an injury on Saturday, September 21, 2019, in order not to sit on the bench.

He preferred to follow the match from the stands, thus provoking the anger of his coach. Ammouta, furious at the goalkeeper’s behavior, produced a detailed report of the incident to the President of the FRMF, Fouzi Lekjaâ.

After a very stormy meeting of the Board of Directors on Thursday, September 26, the FRMF decided to suspend Tagnaouti for three months. The Federation also condemned his lack of professionalism and discipline.

Goalkeeper number three of the Moroccan national team behind Yassine Bounou and Munir Mohand, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti will not participate in the next matches of the Atlas Lions, in particular the friendlies against Libya (October 11) and Gabon (October 15).

However, he can continue to play for his club, Wydad Casablanca, during the suspension period.

After this sanction, the accused reacted to this decision on the airwaves of Radio Mars: "I accept the decision of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. I will always be available for the national team. Now I have to focus on my club. I don’t understand why this case has taken such a turn. I was really injured. Maybe next time I’ll do better to hide my injuries."