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Rabat – A new case of irregular migration occurred again as two Moroccan wrestlers took advantage of their participation at the World Wrestling Championship in Serbia to flee illegally.
While the athletes were due to compete in the U23 World Championships held in Serbia from November 1 to 7, they escaped without any notice upon landing in Belgrade.
Morocco’s Royal Wrestling Federation (FRMLA) expressed its outrage and shock due to the athletes’ behavior and assured to take legal actions.
In a statement to a Moroccan news outlet, the president of FRMLA, Fouad Meskout, stressed that “a criminal network specializing in illegal immigration is behind the escape of the two Moroccan wrestlers to Serbia.”
Meskout confirmed that a complaint has been filed to the Serbian, French and Moroccan authorities.
Meskout further stated that the federation has immediately informed the Moroccan Embassy in Belgrade, with the Serbian authorities also searching for the athletes.
“It has become a habit. As soon as Moroccan athletes landed abroad, they flew” he noted.
This is not the first time Moroccan athletes escape once they set foot in Europe. Several incidents have prompted questions about why athletes are escaping to Europe, whether by irregular sea migration or after landing on European soil.
In September, three volleyball players from the national team, namely Soufiane Dkhissi, Abdallah Sadil, and Noureddine Khayati escaped once they landed in Italy for the World Championships held from September 23 to October 3.
In April, two Moroccan boxers disappeared after arriving in Poland to participate in the 2021 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships.
In 2019, a Moroccan taekwondo champion has also decided to take the illegal migration route to Europe, crossing from Morocco to the Canary Islands.
The 27-year-old taekwondo player Anouar Boukharsa told the news outlet InfoMigrants that he became “disillusioned with Morocco,” stressing that he always felt “useless and ignored.”
Moroccan athletes and activists have repeatedly argued that the Moroccan sporting system is underdeveloped and does not always provide the necessary equipment and training for athletes to develop their skills and rise to international prominence.
