Football fans applaud departure of Moroccan federation chairman
2009-04-06
Following Morocco's defeat against Gabon, the chair of the football federation declared his intention to leave his post. "The federation needs managers with a pragmatic view of the sector," said one specialist.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 06/04/09
 [Getty Images] Royal Moroccan Football Federation Chairman Hosni Benslimane said he would step down soon. |
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation chairman, General Hosni Benslimane, announced on Tuesday (March 31st) that he was to retire. Benslimane indicated that he would step down at the next general meeting on April 16th.
The turning point for the chairman was the 2-1 defeat of the national team by Gabon on March 28th, in a qualifier game for the 2010 World Cup. The media and the public voiced their disappointment and blamed events on the federation, led by Benslimane since 1994.
Since then, there have been calls from all sides for a complete shake-up of the federation.
Members of Parliament complained about the "very low" level of achievement in the sport. Bassima Hakkaoui, who chairs the parliamentary committee on social sectors, stressed that the federation is responsible for the repeated failures of the national team in recent months. "We need to give young people a chance to put the sector back on track," she said.
"The defeat against Gabon was a decisive moment, particularly given the Moroccan public's general anger at the weakness of the national team," stated Ahmed El Ammori, chairman of the federation's planning committee.
Some Moroccans were equally satisfied with the announcement.
"Without the general at the head of the sport, Moroccan football will flourish," said student Hassane Bahmidane. "Morocco's defeat is possibly not all bad if it means that things get moving."
Hamza Sakili, a teacher, shared this view. "The match against Gabon was humiliating. We have spent millions of dirhams on football and got nothing back. I hope the new chairman will be able to restore Moroccan football to its former glory. We remember our team's golden age."
Rachid Batouli, an academic who researches sports, believes this change should have happened long ago, because the federation needs managers with a pragmatic view of the sector.
"The federation should not only look after the national side; it should take care of all teams, which are experiencing real problems at the moment. It's also true that football's future lies in the hands of the clubs," he explained.
The departure of Hosni Benslimane happened following royal intervention.
Vice-President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation Mohamed Aouzel did not deny this. "The change is a positive one and will consolidate football's position as a driving force for sport in the country," he stated. "His Majesty's initiative is a laudable one."
Aouzel highlighted the disappointment caused by the national team's results, saying the federation had "put all the necessary conditions in place".
At the moment, Ali Fassi Fihri, current director of the state electricity board and member of the board of directors of the Fath Union Sport club, is the leading candidate to take over for Benslimane.
According to Batouli, Fassi Fihri is expected to take over the post since he is close to the palace. The palace always appoints federation chairmen.
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Myfist Posted 2009-04-06
We are happy about the resignation of this fat thief from the old regime!
Bizanti Posted 2009-04-06
I am not sure if ousting the " General " will bring success. The problem is much deeper when out of hundreds of thousands of locals players, we cannot find a single local player that is good enough for the National team. This tells me that football in Morocco is run by crooks and now we will have another Palace insider to run the federation. Professional players in Europe and elsewhere are valuable too but a country like ours should also be able to develop local players an help them achieve success with the National team.
Atlasi Posted 2009-04-06
“At the moment, Ali Fassi Fihri, current director of the state electricity board (and office of drinking water) and member of the board of directors of the Fath Union Sport club, is the leading candidate to take over for Benslimane.” The Fassi Fihris apparently want to be everywhere, just like the extraterrestrials!!! They want to be the embodiment of the Makhzan in all fields and sectors. They pretend to be politicians, scientists, managers, economists, entrepreneurs and so on. Apparently, they were missing in football!!! Here are their qualifications: faces and bakshish! Who is the Minister of Foreign Affairs? –a Fassi Fihri! Who is the Inspector General of the Ministry of the Interior? –a Fassi Fihri! Who is perpetually the Secretary of the Makhzani’s Academy of Sciences? –a Fassi Fihri! Who is the director of National Office of Electricty and the National Office of Drinking Water? –a Fassi Fihri! Whoe is the director of the Highway Authority? –a Fassi Fihri! Who is the president of Amadeus? –a Fassi Fihri! Now they even want to stick their noses into sports!!! It is easy to understand why Morocco has been slipping in the mud for years! Is it that only the Mongolian Fassi Fihri can take these posts!?! These Fassis truly have no modesty! They have no shame! They do not even blush because of their ridiculous faces and Mongolian faces!
Hommelibre Posted 2009-04-07
“Yes!” to the departure of General Benslimane from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation Change is always beneficial. On the other hand, “No” to Fassi Fihri’s candidature! This family just wants control. His brother is a minister, as are his uncle, his sister-in-law, his nephew and so on. This is scandalous for a democracy. Morocco is overflowing with talented people of good potential. We just need to go look for them and have more transparency in appointing people to office as such.
redadoc Posted 2009-04-07
Not only should the general be fired, but so should his entire support staff. And, I am not just referring to Guertili and company! There are young, dynamic, modern, proud people and minds who could direct this federation. Everyone remembers what the committee directed by Benslimane did to Zaki, the only coach to lead an unknown Moroccan team to the African Cup finals. Everyone remembers the pressure he put on the referees in order to make FAR win the Moroccan Chamionshop only to result in FAR being eliminated from the African Champions League. Everyone remembers Zaki’s disgust during the match against FAR in Rabat, followed by a saction, quick snap. No, there is too much injustice in Moroccan football. Either you are a servant to the general and get to wear the referee stripes on your shoulders or you will never become an international referee. After the departure of the general and company, it will be time to sound the alarm on Federation’s accounts and accounting. We would like to know how its accounting functions in relation to the lottery, football and sports betting. It is time to separate ourselves from this poor management because we have had no significant, positive results. We have not had a second try at the World Cup or the African Cup. We have FAR and Khemissat, which are heavenly, and the rest go to the trash. It is time to change! Yes we can! But, shame on you Mr General and company! The nation is worth more than your personal interest! Thank you for your service and keep up the good work.
Germelou Posted 2009-04-07
Football in Morocco needs a decent national championship that can produce decent 22 top athletes per year for the national team. Clean fotball fields and professional cameramen/production would tremendously help. Corruption and mismanagement have killed Moroccan football. Hope they will bring in a clean dude instead of a Marshal or one of those clowns who consider Morocco as their personal playground.
Free Posted 2009-04-07
In effect, the head chief of the Makhzani and his court of Fassis are the ones who have decided everything for Morocco since it officially stopped be a French protectorate. The Fassi Fihris apparently want to be everywhere, just like extraterrestrials! They want to embody the Makhzani in all domains and sectors. They make themselves out to be politicians, scientists, managers, economists, entrepreneurs and so on. Apparently, they were missing in football!!! Here are their qualifications: big talk and bribe-taking! Who is the Minister of Foreign Affairs? –a Fassi Fihri! Who is the Inspector General of the Ministry of the Interior? –a Fassi Fihri! Who is perpetually the Secretary of the Makhzani’s Academy of Sciences? –a Fassi Fihri! Who is the director of National Office of Electricty and the National Office of Drinking Water? –a Fassi Fihri! Who is the director of the Highway Authority? –a Fassi Fihri! Who is the president of Amadeus? –a Fassi Fihri! And, they hold many more posts too! Now, they even want to stick their noses into sport! It is easy to understand why Morocco has been sliding in the mud for years! They truly have no modesty! They have no shame! Their ridiculous faces do not even blush!
This same article is on mountakhab.com Posted 2009-04-07
This article is a copy-paste from www.mountakhab.com It is the same exact article....how come?????? Somebody is cheating here!!!!!!
Abdellah Zeid (HAMMBHOURGEN)ALLEMAGNE U.E Posted 2009-04-08
Long live the Kingdom of Morocco! Long live King Mohamed VI! Long live the Moroccan people! Long live our Kingdom! We will never concede to the Algerians! The Sahara is Moroccan! God is Great!
ben Posted 2009-04-08
They say that without Fez there would be no Morocco. They are well trained. Unfortunately, we need to be better than them if we want to win. All the same, they are Moroccans just like all the other Moroccans. In sport, the people of Fez are number one, then comes the people of Casablanca and also the people of Oujda in second. But, we have to be honest in our lives: we are all Moroccans, proud of our country. Long live Morocco!
Lyes Posted 2009-04-08
In response to Abdellah Zeid- Now I know who you are. You made a comment on the article, “Bouteflika Adopts a New Position on National Reconciliation.” There, you pretended to be an Algeria. Here, though, you admit you are Moroccan, saying, “Long live our Kingdom!” In another comment you specify that “[You] only want to talk with Belkhadem.” I responded to you, but you were no brave enough to reply. I think this is not abnormal on your part: the quality with which you take part in the forums is too low. I leave it to the readers assess this for themselves. I will only point out that that you should stop fuelling the fire and leave the Algerians to themselves in order to resolve their own Algerian problems. My humble greetings to everyone! Thank you, Magharebia!
Maghribi in England. Posted 2009-04-10
Nothing will be achievable unless there is a genuine DEMOCRACY. I am afraid there is a long way to go before we reach Britain's standards. Good luck...
سمير Posted 2009-04-18
If only they would invest funds which are wasted away unreasonably on the national team on other sectors such as building an industrial unit which would at least solve even slightly the problem of unemployment.
lezoulomar Posted 2009-04-19
I hope that Morocco and Algeria qualify to the World Cup. We will see real football on 7 June in Algiers between Egypt and Algeria.
ait masaoud essaid Posted 2009-08-04
I am a young, athletic man. I know refereeing rules. Will you let me know what steps to take to enrol in the football refereeing school? -Thank you
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