Morocco coach breaks silence on allegations of AFCON referees favouring his team: 'It's always been the case...' – Firstpost

Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has blasted critics who alleged that referees at the Africa Cup of Nations were favouring his team who are hosting the tournament. Social media users claimed that referees were biased towards the host nation but Regragui totally dismissed such claims and noted that it was a shame for people to think this way.

Morocco, the semifinalists at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, have made it to the semifinals of the AFCON and are gearing up to face Nigeria in the last four clash that takes place Wednesday.

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Morocco coach calls refereeing bias allegations shameful

Regragui rejected the claims and remarked that football matches are not won due to bias in refereeing calls.

“It’s always a shame to go down this path,” Regragui remarked at the press conference ahead of his team’s semifinal clash. “They want to make people believe that matches are always won this way. Let’s not kid ourselves, it’s always been the case on the African continent to sow doubts and controversies.”

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He also reported that the media needs to do their job as these controversies are always there in football matches all around the world.

“You journalists need to do your job,” he added. “A penalty can be given one way in one match and not in another. A handball is called in one match and not in another. I watch a lot of matches because we have many players in Europe, and the controversies are the same everywhere, in Africa or in Europe.”

He also gave a couple of examples where some close calls did not go his team’s way in the quarterfinal against Cameron where the hosts won 2-0.

“One of their defenders puts his foot on Abde (Ezzalzouli)’s ankle, and if VAR reviews the play, it’s a penalty,” he reported. “The goalkeeper comes out to challenge (Ismael) Saibari and puts both hands in his head, that’s a penalty. But neither were given.”

“The only way to success is on the pitch, by winning our matches. You’ve never heard me talk about the refereeing after a match,” he remarked.

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“We hope the referee will be fair to both teams tomorrow, as he has been since the start of the competition,” the coach added.

Morocco are yet to face a defeat in the AFCON and are among the favourites to triumph the tournament. Their semifinal opponnets Nigeria too are unbeaten and will provide a tough challenge to the host side.

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