Comprehensive changes in the refereeing administration

The technical committee overseeing Moroccan refereeing has implemented radical changes within the refereeing management, following criticisms and protests regarding the performance of the body in recent times.

“Hesport” obtained information from reliable sources indicating that several members of the current management will be dismissed, while Ridouane Jaid will retain his position despite previous criticisms and complaints directed at him.

The new management structure sees the official return of Abdel Rahim Al-Arjoun, with the possibility of Bouchaib Lahrash returning as well, in addition to bringing in new talents.

There is also a clear possibility of integrating foreign expertise into the new structure, alongside Moroccan talents, to benefit from diverse experiences in improving the refereeing system.

These developments come amid a tense atmosphere within the Moroccan refereeing community, especially after the final ranking of referees from last season was revealed, which displeased many referees, particularly after Jalal Jaid finished sixth despite participating in the 2026 World Cup and officiating several important matches.

The previous period also witnessed a series of protests related to the decisions of the refereeing management, as well as the controversy surrounding some appointments, evaluations, and refereeing errors that sparked widespread discussion within the national league.

Among the issues that garnered significant attention was the case of referee Bushra Karboubi, who had announced her retirement before reversing her decision, without reportedly receiving a response regarding her request. She later moved to Tahiti to continue her career in refereeing.

In this context, the refereeing management of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation has established a program for distributing referees across various divisions of the national league for the new season, based on the overall evaluation of the previous season.

As for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, informed sources indicated that a group of referees has been designated to oversee the technology in both the first and second divisions, with the first division relying on the trio of Abdel Rahim Rakhiz, Slimane Al-Atafi, and Abdel Moneim Baslam.

The performance of VAR referees during the new season is expected to be subjected to specific evaluation criteria, with objectives set to improve the performance ratios of each referee compared to the previous season.

These changes come ahead of the new football season, at a time when the refereeing file continues to receive significant attention, especially following the controversy surrounding some management decisions regarding the exclusion of several prominent referees from first division matches.