The Central Disciplinary Committee of the National Professional Football League has suspended Badr Eddine Abahir, goalkeeper of Ittihad Tanger, for three matches and imposed a fine of 10,000 dirhams following an incident during his team's match against Moghreb Tétouan in the second round of the professional league.
The punishment came after Abahir attempted to damage the penalty spot just before the penalty awarded to Moghreb Tétouan was taken in the final minutes of the match, an action the disciplinary committee deemed a violation of the rules and the spirit of sportsmanship in national competitions.
The incident occurred at the Grand Stadium in Tangier, where the Ittihad Tanger goalkeeper was seen trying to alter the penalty area just before the kick, while the match was nearing its end, which finished in a 1-1 draw.
The disciplinary measures were not limited to the Tangier goalkeeper; the management of Ittihad Tanger also received a warning and was tasked with repairing the damage to the pitch caused by the incident, as the recorded actions resulted in damage to part of the playing surface.
This penalty comes as part of the Central Disciplinary Committee's efforts to tighten regulations on behaviors that could negatively impact the flow of matches or harm the image of football competitions, especially since the attempt to influence the penalty kick coincided with critical moments of the game.
This is the second such penalty for Abahir in recent times, following a similar sanction imposed on a player from Wydad Témara, indicating a trend among disciplinary bodies to deal firmly with behaviors that exceed the limits of sports competition within national stadiums.
The penalty directed at Abahir has sparked strong reactions from Moroccan fans on social media, who considered it harsh and excessive from the disciplinary committee overseeing the professional league.
