Morocco Football Federation’s McDonald’s Partnership Sparks Boycott Controversy

McDonald’s, the new sponsor of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF)? On the web, the appearance of the McDonald’s logo on the FRMF’s official page as a partner, on the same level as Dari, Pepsi or AtlantaSanad, does not please Moroccan Internet users. Since the surprise attack by Hamas on October 7 and the continuation of the Israeli offensive, the famous brand is accused of supporting the Israeli army. In November, it had to recall in a post on X that "it does not finance or support any government involved in this conflict; all initiatives of our local Master Franchisees have been taken independently, without the consent or approval of McDonald’s." Not enough to convince the Moroccans, ardent defenders of the Palestinian cause, to end the boycott campaigns.

Many Internet users reacted to the new collaboration between the FRMF and McDonald’s. On X, some accuse the federation’s officials of "betrayal." "A message to the kawatists with residues of janissaries, where’s the problem? You are traitors to the nation. #McDonalds," writes the Moorish knight account. According to other Internet users, apart from money, the two entities do not share any common values. "I wonder, apart from money, what are the shared values between McDo and the FRMF?" wonders KarimSensei.

Faced with the controversy, a source within the FRMF interviewed by Hespress recalled that it is actually a "tacit renewal" of the contracts linking the two parties, as they have been partners for many years. The same source also specified that the governing body of Moroccan football has concluded new ones with various partners, as Morocco is to host the 2025 CAN and co-organize the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.