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Rabat – Three players from Morocco’s national amputee football team have fled the Amp Futbol Cup 2022 in Poland, which took place between June 7 and 12.
According to Sports media AlmarssadSports, the three players escaped before the competition started, leaving the national team with 8 players instead of 11 and only one reserve player.
The Moroccan team went on to rank third in the competition after winning against Tanzania (4-1) and Italy (4-1), and losing against Poland (1-3) and Switzerland (1-3) in penalty shootouts.
Morocco World News (MWN) contacted The Moroccan Para Sports Federation to confirm the escape incident but was told that they have no information in this regard.
MWN also reached out to the Polish Embassy in Morocco but received no answer.
This is not the first incident of Moroccan athletes fleeing their training camp or hotel when they travel to Europe to play in an international tournament. In May 2022, a total of 8 Moroccan minors fled their camp at the World School Cross Championship in Slovakia.
In September 2021, three volleyball players from Morocco’s national team escaped once they landed in Italy for the World Championships.
Read also: Morocco, Israel Women’s Basketball Teams To Play Friendly Match
In April of the same year, two Moroccan boxers escaped after arriving in Poland to participate in the Aiba Youth World Boxing Championship.
Moroccan Taekwondo champion Anouar Boukharsa made headlines in 2019 after he crossed the Mediterranean sea to reach Spain on a small boat.
He documented his trip in a short video where he is seen throwing his medals in the water and saying that they are of no value.
Athletes across the world have long used international competitions as an opportunity to escape war, poverty, or look for a better life, either by seeking asylum or escaping altogether.
