Morocco’s Lawyers Club has strongly condemned remarks by the president of the Senegalese Football Federation, accusing him of making defamatory statements against Morocco and undermining the integrity of African football institutions.
In a statement, the organization said the official crossed the line from sports criticism into what it described as “explicit institutional defamation” by accusing Morocco of exerting hidden influence over the Confederation of African Football, or CAF, and manipulating continental football governance.
The lawyers’ group said the allegations were made without evidence and amounted to a serious attack on the credibility of both Moroccan and African sports bodies. It accused the Senegalese official of using insinuation and defamation to deflect responsibility for what it described as organizational failures within his own federation.
“These claims cannot be treated as simple sporting opinions,” the statement said, arguing that they violate fundamental principles of neutrality and integrity enshrined in the ethics codes of FIFA and CAF.
The Lawyers Club cited Articles 14, 15 and 16 of FIFA’s Code of Ethics, as well as Article 82 of CAF’s Disciplinary Code, which require sports officials to uphold impartiality and ethical conduct. It said the remarks also fall under provisions related to defamation and abusive behavior, including Article 23 of FIFA’s Code of Ethics and Article 131 of CAF’s Disciplinary Code.
According to the statement, such violations could expose those responsible to disciplinary sanctions, including fines and suspensions from football-related activities that could last several years.
The organization said it has formally submitted a complaint to FIFA’s Ethics Committee, relying on provisions that allow individuals and entities to report alleged misconduct to the governing bodies’ judicial authorities. It added that once the complaint is registered, investigative bodies are expected to conduct a preliminary review of the evidence and take appropriate legal action.
In closing, the Lawyers Club said institutional shortcomings cannot justify questioning the integrity of Moroccan sports institutions or African football governance. It stressed that Moroccan football’s reputation should not be harmed by what it described as irresponsible media statements that run counter to the spirit of African solidarity.
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