Marseille withdraws jersey after Morocco backlash over severed map design

French football club Olympique de Marseille has removed a controversial jersey from its official online store after a wave of criticism from Moroccan fans, who said the design undermined Morocco’s territorial integrity.

The club had recently launched a new Africa-themed jersey collection featuring stylized maps of African countries. One design depicting Morocco showed the country without its southern provinces, triggering widespread backlash on Moroccan social media platforms.

Many fans described the design as an unacceptable mistake, arguing that issues related to territorial unity are highly sensitive and cannot be dismissed as artistic or marketing choices. Images of the jersey circulated widely online, accompanied by calls for the club to correct what critics called a serious oversight.

Anger intensified after it emerged that the sportswear manufacturer behind Marseille’s kits also supplies Morocco’s national teams, prompting questions about quality control and vetting procedures before approving and marketing such designs.

Criticism also extended to Marseille’s sporting director, former Morocco international Mehdi Benatia, who faced scrutiny on X, formerly known as Twitter. Some users argued that his position within the club should have alerted management to the sensitivity of the issue.

Fans also pointed to the presence of Morocco international Nayef Aguerd in the squad, which further amplified the reaction among Moroccan supporters.

Amid mounting online pressure, Olympique de Marseille removed the jersey from its e-commerce platform, a move widely seen as an initial response to the controversy. As of Saturday, the club had not issued an official statement explaining how the design was approved or offering an apology.

Moroccan football fans are now awaiting a formal clarification from the club, with many calling for a clear public explanation and assurances that national sensitivities will be respected in the future.