Abdelrahim El Arjoun takes charge of Moroccan refereeing
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Le Matin
Abdelrahim El Arjoun has been appointed head of Morocco’s National Refereeing Directorate, replacing Redouane Jiyed. The National Professional Football League presents the change as a way to renew technical management, while Jiyed will now oversee referee training, reports Le Matin.
Abdelrahim El Arjoun has been appointed head of the National Refereeing Directorate (DNA), replacing former international referee Redouane Jiyed, according to Morocco’s National Professional Football League (LNFP). He will have to revive the technical management of refereeing in the Moroccan league after several months of criticism targeting referees’ performances and the DNA’s operations.
Redouane Jiyed will nevertheless remain in the sector: the LNFP has entrusted him with overseeing the initial and continuing training of referees. The day before the appointment, Abdesslam Belkchour, president of the LNFP, had publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with the standard of refereeing, while several decisions and the use of video assistant refereeing (VAR) had sparked strong reactions from clubs.
Abdelrahim El Arjoun will notably have to clarify appointment criteria, strengthen communication with clubs and harmonise the use of VAR, according to the priorities presented by the LNFP. Continuing training, performance assessment and support for young referees are also among the tasks of the new directorate.
