Organizational Chaos and Fan Frustration Mar Morocco's U17 World Cup Exit Against Brazil

The U17 World Cup quarter-final match between the Moroccan national team and their Brazilian counterparts, held yesterday evening in Doha, was marred by unprecedented organizational chaos. This sparked anger among hundreds of Moroccan fans who had traveled in large numbers to support the 'Lion Cubs' in one of their most crucial World Cup matches.

Many Moroccan fans who left the stands during halftime to visit the 'Fan Zone' for food or a break were surprised to find themselves denied re-entry, despite holding valid match tickets. According to observations by "Al-Botola," the gates were completely closed, leaving dozens of Moroccans outside the stadium, unable to watch the entire second half.

This sudden decision caused significant frustration, especially since these supporters believed that exiting between halves was normal practice, as is common in all international competitions.

Furthermore, there was considerable disorganization in the security forces' handling of the crowd. Security personnel engaged in direct confrontations with several fans, leading to scenes that caused widespread discontent. These tensions delayed the entry of dozens of Moroccans who were on their way to the stands, causing them to miss minutes or even an entire half of the match.

The match was held in a stadium with a capacity of only 1,500 seats, a number entirely insufficient given the massive turnout of Moroccan fans, who are known for their strong support for their national teams across all age categories. In addition, a respectable number of Brazilian fans were present, making the stadium's capacity unsuitable for a match of this magnitude.

The events witnessed yesterday reignite discussions about the readiness of smaller stadiums in the "Aspire Zone" to host global competitions on the scale of the U17 World Cup, especially since the next edition will also be held in Qatar.

The use of limited-capacity stadiums in a tournament that attracts fans from various continents could, according to "Al-Botola's" observations, create numerous organizational and security problems, particularly in matches with large attendance, such as those involving teams like Morocco, Brazil, or other Arab nations.

Despite the 'Lion Cubs'' valiant performance and a last-minute 2-1 defeat, the bitterness of elimination was compounded for many fans who either could not watch the second half or experienced organizational chaos that negatively impacted their stadium experience.

Moroccan fans hope that these organizational shortcomings will be addressed before the next edition of the tournament, ensuring a better experience for supporters and presenting an image befitting a global competition held in a country with extensive experience in organizing major sporting events.