Morocco’s beIN Sports Commentator Faces Backlash Over CHAN 2023 Remarks

It all started with a controversy. A CAF referee awarded a 3-0 score to Sudan for the Sunday match that was to oppose them to Morocco, who is not participating in CHAN 2023. While commenting on the Cameroon-Congo match on Monday, Jaouad Bedda wanted to provide clarifications. "Morocco is not considered to have withdrawn from CHAN, but was unable to travel before the start of the tournament," he said.

Algeria had rejected a request from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). The latter had requested that the Atlas Lions travel to Constantine, the host city of Morocco’s matches, via a direct flight from Rabat on a Royal Air Maroc (RAM) plane. The Moroccan sports commentator also pointed out that CHAN is taking place without the main teams in Africa, including Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia.

These remarks provoked a reaction from Algerian supporters. On Facebook, they launched a hostile campaign against him. "The Moroccan commentator, Jaouad Bedda, is provocative. We can feel that all his remarks are directed against Algeria," wrote an Algerian supporter. Another called on the CHAN organizing committee to issue a statement to "condemn" Bedda’s remarks.

The reaction of Moroccans did not wait. On Twitter, they launched the hashtag: "We are all Jaouad Bedda" to express their support for the commentator. "Since when is telling the truth a temptation. Morocco did not withdraw. Algeria has become the cancer of Africa. It only serves European colonialism. We are all Jaouad Bedda," commented an Internet user.