Morocco’s Football Chief Denies Referee Influence Claims, Hits Back at Critics

In an interview with the Egyptian channel "On Time Sport," Lekjaa described these allegations as illogical and stressed that if they were well-founded, Morocco would have already won the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) on several occasions.

"If I had the power to appoint the referees, Morocco would not have had to wait until 1976 to win its only CAN," he said, noting that the kingdom has often been the victim of refereeing injustices, particularly with regard to Moroccan clubs participating in continental competitions.

The president of the FRMF also refuted the accusations of favoritism towards Morocco on the part of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). He recalled that no Moroccan sat on the CAF refereeing commission and that Morocco’s elimination from the last CAN is the best proof of the impartiality of the African authorities.

These statements follow the incendiary remarks of an Algerian analyst who accused Lekjaa of instrumentalizing CAF for the benefit of Morocco. These hateful statements have sparked outrage among Internet users, who have denounced their defamatory nature and their contradiction with the values of sport.