Morocco have already made tournament history as the first African team to reach the quarter-finals at successive World Cups, even before Thursday’s clash against France. But the build-up has been overshadowed by accusations of rigging after FIFA appointed an all-Argentinian officiating team for the match.
Facundo Tello will referee, with Juan Pablo Belatti and Gabriel Chade as assistants, Dario Herrera as fourth official and Cristian Navarro as reserve assistant. Argentina, who beat France in the 2022 final on penalties, have a history with Les Bleus. The announcement prompted a wave of fan anger on social media, with one X user writing: “All Argentina referees for a France match, FIFA trying everything to rig the World Cup for Argentina once again.” Another commented: “It already looks rigged.”
“Morocco face France in World Cup quarter-final amid pride and controversy over all-Argentinian referees.”
The controversy follows Egypt’s 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the round of 16, which Egypt attacker Mostafa Ziko called “a rigged game”. Ziko, who scored Egypt’s second goal and had another disallowed, said: “It wasn’t our fault. That referee… it seems like this match was rigged. We were winning 2-0, and he kept coming at us. Congratulations to Argentina on another World Cup, it seems.” Egypt boss Hossam Hassan said his nation were victims of “injustice”. Ziko’s first goal was ruled out after a VAR intervention cited a foul on an Argentine player, while a similar situation in the build-up to Argentina’s winner was deemed not a foul.
On the pitch, Morocco have delighted fans at home. The Atlas Lions, semi-finalists in 2022, became the first African team to reach the last 16 in 1986 and qualified directly for the first time in 1970. “The general feeling, amongst Moroccans, is pride and contentment in this team,” said Amine El Amri, a football journalist from Casablanca. “The main goal before the competition was to reach the quarter-finals, given the context, given the change of manager… I think the victory over the Netherlands cemented the reputation of Ouahbi as a trustworthy coach.”
Morocco beat the Netherlands in the last 32 and Canada in the last 16. “Beating Canada in the way we did, despite having a very difficult first half, has also added to that confidence,” El Amri added. “Our Saturday night was crazy – no one slept.”
Now they face France’s fearsome attacking trio of Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé at Boston Stadium. Joseph-Antoine Bell, former Cameroon goalkeeper, said: “Nobody can play against Morocco at the World Cup and say that they are sure to win. They can be behind in a game but they will never lose their temper… This is what happens when a team have solved…”