World football governing body FIFA has fined Morocco US$65,650 and warned winger Noureddine Amrabat for misconduct after the Atlas Lions conceded a late goal in their last World Cup game against Spain, rendering them winless in the tournament.
Amrabat was deemed to have directed an obscene comment about FIFA’s new video assistant referee (VAR) technology at a television camera minutes after the game ended.
The Moroccans had been eliminated from the tournament after losing their first two games of the competition, but hoped to bow out with a win against La Roja.
FIFA says one disciplinary charge related to six Morocco staff who “forced their way into the pitch after the final whistle.” Assistant coach Patrice Beaumelle was also warned for “improper behavior.”
Another charge was for crowd disturbances by Moroccan fans throwing objects in the stadium.
Morocco federation president Fouzi Lekjaa was warned for coming to the team technical area during the game.
Other than Morocco, all the other four African teams were also eliminated from the World Cup, meaning the continent had no representative in the Round of 16.
