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On social media, many Moroccans have expressed dissatisfaction with Arryadia’s commentary during the recent Atlas Lions match. Following Morocco’s final World Cup warm-up friendly against Norway on Sunday in New Jersey, social media platforms were flooded with videos criticizing the way the match was called.
Most of the criticism focused on what users described as a lack of enthusiasm and energy, with some arguing that the commentary was «boring» and «put viewers to sleep». The reactions quickly gave rise to a wave of memes, parody videos and jokes, with some users sarcastically suggesting that the World Cup itself would become «boring» if the commentary remained unchanged.
The match was commentated by Arryadia journalist Hicham Farraj, though criticism also spilled over to fellow commentator and journalist Soufiane Errachdi.
On Wednesday, Errachdi took to social media to denounce what he described as a «campaign of defamation, insults and slander» directed at him.
«What hurts me is not professional criticism, but personal attacks and attempts to damage my reputation and honor without any right or evidence», he wrote.
Errachdi's statement was followed by a show of support from the Moroccan Association of Sports Press (AMPS), which condemned what it described as a «systematic and aggressive campaign» targeting both Errachdi and fellow commentator Hicham Farraj. The association said the criticism had gone beyond legitimate professional debate and crossed into personal attacks affecting the journalists' dignity, reputation and families.
The association announced that it would support any legal action the commentators choose to pursue and called on media and human rights organizations to stand against what it described as defamation, hate speech and personal attacks.
The controversy comes despite the match drawing record audiences. Broadcast exclusively by SNRT, the Morocco-Norway friendly attracted more than 12 million viewers across Al Aoula, Arryadia and SNRTnews social media platforms.
The National Radio and Television Company (SNRT) had secured exclusive broadcasting rights for the fixture, allowing Moroccan audiences to follow the Atlas Lions’ World Cup preparations free of charge.
