“Never Again!”: The Atlas Lions Fear Reliving the Same Scandalous Refereeing Scenario Against France as in the Qatar 2022 World Cup Semi-Final
As anticipation builds ahead of the highly awaited World Cup 2026 quarter-final between Morocco and France, scheduled for Thursday, July 9, growing concern is emerging among the Moroccan public. Beyond the sporting stakes, many supporters fear witnessing a repeat of what they regard as the controversial refereeing that overshadowed the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-final in Qatar—a match that, for many Moroccans, remains synonymous with a profound sense of injustice.
Nearly four years after that historic encounter, won by France, the memories remain vivid. While the Atlas Lions made history by becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach a World Cup semi-final, the events of December 14, 2022, continue to fuel debate in cafés, across social media, and among Moroccan football analysts.
At the center of the controversy was Mexican referee César Arturo Ramos Palazuelos, whose decisions prompted widespread criticism in Morocco. Many supporters, former players, and football pundits argued that several contentious incidents inside the French penalty area should have resulted in penalties being awarded to Morocco.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) gave official weight to these concerns by submitting a formal complaint to FIFA. In a statement released after the match, the federation asserted that the Atlas Lions had been denied “two indisputable penalties” and expressed regret that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) had failed to intervene in either incident.
This exceptional move reflected the deep frustration felt throughout Moroccan football at the time. Although the result of the match was never challenged by international football authorities, the episode has remained deeply embedded in the collective memory of Moroccan supporters.
Now, as fate brings Morocco and France together once again on the World Cup stage, those memories have naturally resurfaced. Across digital platforms and among supporters gathering in anticipation of the match, one message is repeatedly echoed: the hope that the officiating will be beyond reproach and that the outcome of this prestigious encounter will be decided solely by the quality of football displayed on the pitch.
Moroccans firmly believe that the Atlas Lions now possess the experience, talent, and maturity required to compete with the world’s football elite. Above all, however, they hope that this decisive clash will not be overshadowed by controversial refereeing decisions, as many in Morocco believe happened during the 2022 semi-final.
Abderrazzak Boussaid / Le7tv
