Tangier Bans Public Viewing of Spanish Soccer Matches Amid COVID-19 Surge

The decision is poorly received by the population. In Tangier, no matter the match, "all the matches of the Spanish Liga, the Copa del Rey or the Champions League, are followed by thousands of fans, and that in all the cafes of the capital of the Strait and its surroundings". Unfortunately, football fans forget the preventive measures taken to fight the coronavirus.

Since the resumption of Spanish football and the Champions League, "the cafes are literally packed on match days". On Friday, August 14, around 7 p.m., an hour before the start of the Champions League quarter-final match between FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich, the cafes in the city were crowded, in disregard of the established rules such as social distancing, the use of 50% of the available seats. The next day, in a cafe near the Regnault High School, the regulars were already on site to follow an equally interesting match, when the "mokkadem" entered the cafe to bring the bad news: The broadcasting of football matches in cafes is strictly prohibited in Tangier as in the other cities of Morocco, reports Albayane.

When questioned, Rachid, the cafe manager, did not hide his sadness at this new restriction. "The authorities forbid us to go to the beach. To swim, we are forced to go to the neighboring province of Fahs Anjra. In addition to the beach ban, now they are banning us from football," he declares in an angry tone. According to Saïd, a regular at the cafe, this decision, although unpleasant, can save lives. "Honestly, I’m annoyed not to be able to follow the nice Manchester City-OL match, but if it can help eradicate or curb this pandemic, then we welcome this decision with enthusiasm".

This controversial decision was made following the multiplication of contamination cases. On Saturday, August 15, 1,776 cases were recorded in 24 hours, in addition to 21 new deaths. The authorities have opted for the intensification of measures in order to limit the damage, the same source specifies.