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Rabat – Veteran sports commentator Raouf Khalif has expressed concern over the officiating ahead of Morocco’s World Cup quarterfinal against France, warning that the controversy surrounding Egypt’s elimination from the tournament has raised fears that similar refereeing decisions could affect the Atlas Lions.
Speaking after Egypt’s dramatic Round of 16 defeat to Argentina, Khalif argued that the Pharaoh had been unfairly treated and suggested Morocco should remain vigilant ahead of its meeting with France.
“The Egypt–Argentina match was stolen… and there are fears that Morocco could face the same problem against France,” Khalif said.
His remarks come as refereeing standards at the 2026 FIFA World Cup continue to generate debate following Egypt’s controversial exit.
The Pharaohs were eliminated after surrendering a two-goal lead in a 3-2 defeat to Argentina, a match overshadowed by a series of disputed officiating decisions, including a disallowed Egyptian goal following a VAR review and rejected penalty appeals.
The Egyptian Football Association later criticized what it described as the “failure to make appropriate use” of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, while head coach Hossam Hassan questioned several decisions made during the match.
The Atlas Lions face France in a repeat of the controversial 2022 World Cup semifinal, a match still remembered by many Moroccan supporters for several disputed refereeing decisions, including penalty appeals that went unawarded.
Since Morocco booked its place in the quarterfinals with a 3-0 victory over Canada, footage from the 2022 semifinal has resurfaced widely across social media, while analysts and supporters have renewed calls for fair and consistent officiating.
Morocco enters Thursday’s clash as the last remaining African and Arab nation in the tournament, with millions expected to follow one of the most anticipated quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup.
