Rabat – Moroccan football club MAS Fez faced unacceptable conditions ahead of Sunday’s CAF Champions League encounter against ASEC Mimosas in Abidjan, with reports of an unmaintained pitch, ticketing difficulties and a foul-smelling dressing room that players refused to enter.
The incidents occurred before the second leg of the competition’s second preliminary round at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, where the Moroccan side was seeking qualification for the group stage.
According to Moroccan media reports, ASEC Mimosas officials refused requests from MAS Fez to cut and water the grass before the match, potentially affecting the playing conditions.
The club’s delegation raised the issue with the match delegate, who subsequently informed ASEC officials of the complaints.
The visitors also reportedly encountered difficulties obtaining tickets for their supporters, adding to the growing frustration surrounding their reception in the Ivorian capital.
MAS Fez players refuse to enter dressing room
The situation took another troubling turn when MAS Fez players refused to use the dressing room allocated to them because of an unbearable smell.
According to Radio Mars correspondent Amjad Abou Jadallah, reporting from Abidjan, the Moroccan delegation discovered the poor conditions upon arriving at the stadium.
The players and coaching staff subsequently decided against entering the room, citing concerns about hygiene and their ability to prepare properly.
Instead, the team was forced to change into its playing kits and leave its belongings in an area normally reserved for warming up.
The incident was also reported to the match delegate.
Unacceptable conditions raise questions for CAF
The reported treatment of MAS Fez raises serious questions about the standards expected of clubs hosting continental competitions.
Regardless of the importance of the match, visiting players should not be forced to prepare in unsuitable dressing rooms or face unnecessary obstacles before taking the field.
If confirmed, the refusal to meet reasonable pitch-maintenance requests, combined with the reported dressing-room conditions and ticketing problems, would reflect poorly on ASEC Mimosas’ handling of its hosting responsibilities.
Such incidents also warrant examination by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which is responsible for overseeing the competition and ensuring appropriate conditions for participating clubs.
MAS Fez entered Sunday’s encounter following a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Meknes, with qualification for the Champions League group stage at stake.
The Moroccan side should have been able to concentrate entirely on that challenge, rather than dealing with reported organizational and hygiene problems before one of its most important matches of the season.
