The eminent international referee Jilali Gharib victim of a sudden health crisis: adventures of a rich career for the first Moroccan to participate as an arbitrator in World Cup matches

This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:

Hibapress-Rabat

International referee Jilali Gharib, of the Oriental League, was the victim of a sudden health crisis and was transferred to a clinic in Oujda, where he currently receives medical care.

The important thing is that we have reassured ourselves on his state of health, and hope that he recovers quickly.

International Gharib Jilali is one of the most eminent names on the national and international arbitration, because it is known for its great competence and integrity in the management of major matches

Jilali Gharib is the first Moroccan to participate as an arbitrator in a World Cup match. It was during the 1994 World Cup in the United States of America where he was an assistant to a referee for several games.

Jilali was chosen as the first assistant of the Mauritian referee, Lim Ki-Chung, during the 1994 World Cup match between Brazil and Russia in the first round on June 20, which ended in two goals without return to Brazil, with the participation of 81,000 spectators. Two days later, Jilali Gharib will appear as the second assistant referee of the Italian Fabio Baldas, during the match between the host team, the United States and his Colombian counterpart, on the pink Bowl Stadium field in Los Angeles. A meeting that will end in the victory of the hosts, with two goals against one. The match saw a record influx reaching 93,000 spectators.

The third match of the Moroccan referee was the one who opposed Argentina to Bulgaria in the first round and who ended in the victory of the Bulgarian team with two goals at 0, on the field of the Cotton Bowl in the state of Dallas, in front of more than 60,000 spectators.

FIFA also chose Jilali Gharib as assistant to the Émirati referee, Ali Boujassim, to lead the semi-finals match to determine third place. A meeting where Sweden met iron with Bulgaria, on July 16 at the Los Angeles Rose Bowl Stadium. In front of 91,000 spectators, the Swedish team had crushed its Bulgarian counterpart by four goals at 0.

Before the World Cup, Jilali Gharib was the first Moroccan referee to participate in the Olympic Games in 1992 in Barcelona. He also directed the final match of the African Champion Club Cup in 1993, between Zamalek (Egypt) and Asante Kotoko (Ghana), then participated in the 1994 African Cup in Côte d’Ivoire, before leaving in the United States.

After the World Cup, the Moroccan referee was summoned by the Asian Football Confederation, in order to participate in the 1996 Asian Cup finals in the United Arab Emirates, becoming the first Moroccan referee to take part in the finals of the Asian continent.

We ask Allah to grant him a speedy recovery and to ensure that he quickly regains his full health and well-being.