Exclusive: Olympique Safi President Denies "Rumor" of Wydad Bus Seizure, Clarifies Facts

Mohamed El Hidaoui, president of Olympique Safi, has denied circulating reports claiming that Wydad AC's team bus was seized after the match between the two teams on Sunday at Stade El Massira, as part of the eighth round of the Professional League.

In an exclusive statement to "El Botola" newspaper, El Hidaoui affirmed that the circulated information "is baseless," explaining that the bus's delayed departure was purely for security reasons. He stated: "No one seized Wydad's bus, and no one from Safi's management spoke with them. The bus was simply delayed at Stade El Massira to prevent any acts of hooliganism outside the stadium, ensuring the road was secured for its departure from the city."

The Olympique Safi president added: "There was no judicial officer present, and even if there were, they would not prevent the bus from leaving, as their role is limited to drafting a report. We did not use any judicial officer today, and if that were to happen, it would be in Casablanca, not Safi."

El Hidaoui clarified that discussions about a court ruling concerning a debt related to Salah Eddine Benyachou's transfer deal are "old and date back three years." He added: "Even if Wydad owed us 150 million centimes, it would not be ethical to seize their bus, especially when they are our guests at Stade El Massira."

The same spokesperson concluded by affirming that "the team departed normally after the match, and there was no communication or judicial intervention as rumored. The only reason for the delayed departure was that security forces preferred to secure the road for the bus, given the large fan presence."