Royal Army supporters in turmoil after arrest of fan Abdel Latif Ibn Taounate
In a decision that sparked widespread controversy in Moroccan sports circles, Abdellatif Ibn Taounate, a fan of the Royal Army team, was arrested because of his public criticism of the team’s management.
Abdul Latif, known for his intense love for the military team, did not hesitate to express his dissatisfaction with the administrative policies and actions that he considered to negatively affect the club’s performance. He expressed his anger on social media, where he strongly criticized the club. The recent decisions of the management, highlighting the decline in the team’s results and the team’s poor performance, also focused on the organization of transactions, the management’s treatment of players, and the selection of the coach. These issues raised the anger of some official bodies of the club. who did not appreciate the expressions he used to express his anger, as they considered them to deviate from the text. Shortly after, Abdel Latif was arrested on charges of defamation and damaging the club’s public image.
The arrest sparked a wave of protests among supporters of the military team and some sports circles, who consider the measure a violation of freedom of expression. They insist that criticizing the administration must be considered a legitimate right for fans who help support the team, and that taking legal action against them could lead to… Suppression of freedom of opinion and the legitimate expression of opinion.
On the other hand, the management’s supporters believe that the criticism should not deviate from the text and should not harm the stability of the club and the performance of the players.
Abdel Latif’s arrest has been widely covered in the media, as some newspapers and websites have called for a review of the policy on the treatment of sports team supporters. Some have also expressed concern that this incident could be the beginning of an approach that could undermine freedom of expression in Moroccan sports and the status of the military supporter. He recently learned that he has a malignant disease, which has prompted the masses to show solidarity with him and ask for his forgiveness, given his health condition.
