Radio Mars sanctioned over AFCON remarks targeting national team player

Morocco’s audiovisual regulator, HACA, has issued a warning to Radio Mars and ordered the suspension of its program «The Truth in 90 Minutes» for one week, following remarks deemed «offensive and inappropriate» toward a Moroccan national team player during AFCON final coverage, aired in the program «Asad Ifriqiya».

The authority said the comments went beyond the limits of acceptable sports criticism and infringed on the dignity of the player concerned, constituting a breach of editorial responsibility and professional ethics, without naming the player involved. HACA also stressed that such violations, particularly when repeated, require stronger internal self-regulation mechanisms within the station.

As part of the sanction, Radio Mars is required to broadcast the regulator’s statement throughout the week at the program’s usual time slot, starting Monday, March 30. The authority emphasized that sports media carries a particular social responsibility, given its wide audience and influence on public opinion, and warned that violent or inappropriate discourse could normalize harmful behavior and undermine the educational role of sports journalism.