Olympic Safi condemns Badr Banoun's remarks and demands an urgent investigation

Olympic Safi football club issued an official statement in which it expressed its strong condemnation and outright rejection of what it described as an "irresponsible and unacceptable act" attributed to Raja player Badr Banoun, following the end of the derby between Raja and Wydad in the twentieth round of the professional championship.

The club explained in its statement that the incident dates back to the moment of a handshake between the players after the match ended, when the said player — according to the statement — uttered remarks described as "provocative and disgraceful," involving insults and a belittling of Olympic Safi's standing in front of a number of players, officials and media representatives at the entrance to the dressing rooms.

Olympic Safi affirmed that what happened cannot be regarded as a mere fleeting outburst, but rather as unsporting behaviour that harms, in its words, a long-established football institution with its own history and standing on the national stage, stressing that such conduct is not consistent with the values of respect and fair competition.

The statement added that any affront to the club or any harm to its dignity is categorically rejected, especially when it comes from a player belonging to a major club bound by historical ties based on mutual respect, which requires — according to the statement — the need to show a sense of responsibility on the part of all components of national football.

In this context, Olympic Safi called on the relevant authorities, foremost among them the National Professional Football League, to open an urgent and comprehensive investigation into this incident and to take the necessary disciplinary measures, in order to protect the prestige of sports institutions and safeguard the ethics of national football.

The club also affirmed that it fully reserved its right to resort to all available legal and regulatory procedures to defend its reputation and moral interests, holding the player concerned fully responsible for what it described as "reckless conduct."

The statement concluded by calling on its fans and all its components to remain calm and exercise self-restraint, and to uphold the values that the club has continued to instil throughout its history, founded on respect and sportsmanship.