Somerset – Morocco’s Royal Football Federation (FRMF) has launched an investigation into the potentially illegal sale of 2022 World Cup tickets.
The decision to begin investigations came following an executive meeting held on December 27, in which FRMF president Fouzi Lekjaa stated he would take “strict measures” against anyone who was found guilty of selling tickets to the global event in an illegal manner.
Lekjaa also specified that in ten days’ time “Anyone who is implicated in any way on [illegal] ticket handling will no longer have a place in [Moroccan] football.”
The FRMF chief assured that the guilty party would be permanently dismissed from their respective positions and that the case would be given to the judiciary authorities, detailed the Spanish sports newspaper La Marca.
On multiple occasions, Moroccan fans who traveled to Doha to watch Morocco’s matches were left unable to buy a ticket. This was notably the case in the Atlas Lions’ knockout matches against Spain, Portugal, and France.
When news emerged of Moroccan fans’ struggles to get tickets to the Atlas Lions’ games, it became clear that tickets were either distributed in a suspicious way or sold for more than their original price.
In addition to the FRMF leadership, the Moroccan judiciary police also opened an investigation into the matter last week.
Suspicions regarding ticket disappearances have led to certain high-up representatives being investigated.
One of those already questioned has been Mohamed El Hidaoui, a senior member of Morocco’s ruling political party leader of the Rally of Independents.
Pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigations, the politician has already been reported to be facing disciplinary action following reports of his potential involvement in the “stolen tickets” case.
Read Also: Lekjaa: Morocco’s Mazraoui, Aguerd Suffered from COVID-19 During World Cup
