Morocco coach Walid Regragui has defended African referees ahead of his side’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-final clash against Nigeria, urging players, journalists and fans to stop focusing on officiating controversies and concentrate on the football.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Regragui said constant debate over refereeing decisions harms the game and distracts from what happens on the pitch.
“Talking about refereeing is bad. We are in a beautiful continent, there is a lot of work being done, and some people imagine we win matches thanks to referees,” he said.
Regragui stressed that he avoids publicly criticising officials and keeps his focus on preparation and performance.
“I only talk to my players about the pitch and winning matches. You will never hear me complain about referees, even after our elimination in Côte d’Ivoire. We must help referees, not attack them,” he added.
The Morocco manager noted that refereeing controversies are not unique to African football, pointing out that similar debates occur worldwide. He challenged journalists to prioritise match analysis rather than fuelling disputes around officiating.
“A penalty is given in one match and not in another. That is football,” he said.
Regragui also referenced several incidents involving his team to support his argument, including a debated penalty awarded against Tanzania, which he said was influenced by physical differences between players. He suggested that similar situations in England might not be penalised.
He further cited matches against Mali and Cameroon, where he believed fouls on Moroccan players went unpunished despite clear contact. Referring to incidents involving Bilal El Khannouss and Abde Ezzalzouli, he said proper use of VAR could have led to different decisions.
His comments come ahead of Wednesday’s semi-final against Nigeria, scheduled for a 9 pm kick-off, as Morocco seek a place in the final and aim to end a continental title drought dating back to 1976.
