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Rabat – The Moroccan Alliance of Sports Journalists (AMJS) joined the chorus against the hateful and racist acts targeting Morocco and its citizens during the opening ceremony of the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which opened on Friday in Algeria.
Algeria’s regime invited Nelson Mandela’s Grandson, Zwelivelile Mandela, who delivered an anti-Moroccan speech that challenged Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over Western Sahara.
The recent anti-Moroccan rhetoric comes amid Algeria’s controversial decision to reject Morocco’s request for its team to fly directly to Constantine using a Royal Air Maroc plane to take part in the continental tournament.
AMJS described the anti-Moroccan campaign during the CHAN opening ceremony as “despicable acts and abject maneuvers,” stressing that the speech delivered during the event is “an out-of-context speech” that ignored the rules and principles of the Olympic Charter to convey untruths and political intrigues” that have no connection with the principles and foundations of football.
For AMSJ, such acts constitute a “flagrant violation of all regulations governing events held under the Confederation of African Football and in accordance with its rules and regulations.”
Videos viral online show Algerian football fans chanting anti-Moroccan slogans, comparing Moroccans to “animals.”
One of the racist chants was: “Give him the banana, Moroccans are animals.”
In addition to AMSJ, Morocco’s Football Federation (FRMF) also issued a press release on Saturday, stressing that such behavior during the opening ceremony reflects “vile practices” and “absurd maneuvers.”
The federation also condemned the “racist” chants directed at Moroccans, calling on CAF to shoulder its full responsibility for the “blatant breaches” of the ethics of football.”
The campaigns seeking to smear Morocco during CHAN sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many citizens calling on CAF to take adequate measures to punish the country’s decision to politicize sports.
Algeria hosts, finances, backs, and arms the Polisario Front, a separatist group that claims independence in Western Sahara challenging Morocco’s territorial integrity.
In addition to their claims, the Polisario Front is also linked to several crimes, including the militarization of children.
Several videos online depict children wearing military uniforms and showing their participation in parades which goes against international human rights law and children’s rights.
Polisario has also been linked to terrorist groups.
Member of European Parliament Brice Hortefeux has recently called on the international community to intervene against the connection between Polisario and terrorist groups.
“The region is faced with an alarming increase in illicit arms, contraband, and terrorism,” Hortefeux said, noting that there are “indications that Polisario… is in league with terrorist groups.”
