Throughout the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, controversial decisions made by the referee have been the topic of conversation. In response to the controversial decisions made by referee Cesar Ramos during the pivotal semifinal match against the defending champions France, Morocco officially complained to FIFA on Wednesday. Morocco’s miraculous World Cup run came to an end after a 0-2 loss to France.
Morocco had an incredible run to the semis, defeating former champion Spain in the Round of 16 and title favourites Portugal in the quarterfinals before being defeated by France in the final. Theo Hernandez scored in the first five minutes of the match before Randal Kolo Muani sealed the deal with a second-half strike as Walid Regragui’s side crashed out of the World Cup.
The Moroccan team, on the other hand, was enraged by some of the referee’s calls during the game, one of which included a yellow card for Sofiane Boufal for fouling Hernandez when they felt it should have been the other way around, leaving the African team frustrated. Morocco hoped for a penalty call, but Ramos chose a free kick for France.
“The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) strongly protested against the arbitration of the Morocco-France match officiated by Mr Cesar Arturo Ramos,” the RFFM said in a statement. To that end, the FRMF sent a letter to the competent body in which it refers back to the arbitration situations that, in the opinion of several arbitration specialists, deprived the Moroccan selection of two indisputable penalties.
“The Video Assistance to Arbitration (VAR) system’s failure to respond to these arbitral circumstances also confused the FRMF. The FRMF reminds everyone that it will stop at nothing to protect and uphold the rights of the National Selections by promoting arbitration fairness and by criticising the arbitral rulings made during this World Cup semifinal match of FIFA Qatar 2022.”
Given that France and Argentina will face each other in the World Cup final in Lusail stadium in two days, an official complaint is unlikely to change things for Morocco.
