Olympique Safi has issued a strongly worded statement condemning Badr Banoun and threatening legal action after comments made by the Raja Casablanca defender following the Casablanca derby.
The controversy erupted after Raja’s defeat to rivals Wydad Casablanca in the 20th round of the Moroccan top flight, a result that further damaged Raja’s hopes in the league title race.
Tensions reportedly rose after the final whistle when Banoun became involved in a heated exchange with Wydad defender Abdelghafour Lamirat near the tunnel area of the stadium.
According to reports, Banoun accused Lamirat of deliberately wasting time during the closing moments of the match. However, the situation escalated because of the wording used by the Raja defender while criticising his opponent.
Banoun reportedly said: “It is shameful to waste time when you are playing for a big team and not for Olympique Safi.”
The statement was interpreted by Olympique Safi as disrespectful and dismissive toward the club, prompting an immediate reaction from the organisation.
In an unusually severe response rarely seen in Moroccan football, Olympique Safi released a lengthy official statement condemning the player’s remarks and warning of potential disciplinary and legal consequences.
The club said: “Following the irresponsible and unacceptable behavior of Raja player Badr Banoun after the end of the derby match, which included provocative and shameful statements that contained explicit mockery and deliberate belittling of the value of Olympique Safi in front of a number of players, officials and media representatives, the club expresses its absolute condemnation and strong denunciation of these unethical and unsportsmanlike actions.”
Olympique Safi rejected suggestions that the comments could be dismissed as an emotional reaction made in the heat of the moment. Instead, the club argued that the remarks represented a direct insult to an established sporting institution and its supporters.
The statement described the incident as “a disgraceful act that directly affects a prestigious sports institution with its history, its men and its fans, and constitutes an unacceptable and rejected insult to a club that has always been an example of sobriety and respect within the national football scene.”
The Moroccan club also stressed that it would not tolerate any attempt to undermine its reputation or standing within national football.
It added that “any attack on the club or any attempt to undermine its status and dignity is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated under any pretext or circumstance.”
Olympique Safi further noted that the issue carried additional significance because the remarks came from a player representing a club with which it historically maintained respectful relations.
The club’s response did not stop at public criticism. Officials formally called on the National Professional Football League to launch an investigation into the incident and impose disciplinary sanctions.
The statement urged authorities to “open an urgent and comprehensive investigation into this incident and to take the necessary and strict disciplinary measures against the player in question, in order to protect the prestige of national football institutions and uphold the ethics of Moroccan sport.”
Olympique Safi argued that action was necessary “to put an end to such provocative behaviors that would fuel tension and harm the image of national football.”
In the strongest section of the statement, the club announced that it reserved the right to pursue legal measures against Banoun, declaring that it would take “all legal and regulatory procedures guaranteed by law, in defense of its reputation, dignity and moral interests.”
The club also stated that Banoun would bear “fully responsible for the consequences of these reckless actions.”
The threat of legal proceedings represents a rare escalation within Moroccan football, where disputes between clubs and players are usually handled internally through sporting authorities rather than through the courts.
The incident has now become one of the most discussed issues in Moroccan football, with attention turning toward whether disciplinary authorities will respond to Olympique Safi’s demands or whether the matter could develop into a broader legal dispute.
