CAN 2025 – Morocco: Walid Regragui speaks frankly about refereeing

CAN 2025 – Morocco: Regragui stands by and defends the refereeing

CAN 2025 – Morocco: Walid Regragui speaks frankly about refereeing

On the eve of the CAN 2025 semi-final against Nigeria, Walid Regragui addressed head-on the refereeing controversy that erupted after the round of 16 clash with Tanzania. The incident, which fueled heated debate over a penalty claim in the dying minutes, was firmly dismissed by the Moroccan coach.

"The penalty against Tanzania, people tried to make it look like a 20-kilo player being touched by a 120-kilo player is always a penalty. In England, for example, that’s never given," he stated,

before broadening his point. For Regragui, focusing the debate on refereeing misses the main issue:

"Controversies over refereeing are always regrettable; it’s a shame to go down that road."

More broadly, the coach stood up for African football.

"In Europe, I watch matches and it’s the same controversies. But since it’s Africa, people want to make a bigger deal out of it. I’ll always be the biggest defender of my continent," he concluded,

bringing the conversation back to football itself ahead of a crucial showdown.