Raja Casablanca defender Bader Banoun has released a statement via his official Instagram account to address the controversy that erupted following the recent derby against Wydad Casablanca, with his post-match comments sparking widespread anger among supporters of Olympic Safi.
The incident stems from the end of the derby match in the 20th round of the Moroccan top flight, which Raja lost 1-0 to Wydad. During the game, Banoun had a heated exchange with Wydad player Lamirat, and was accused of disrespecting Olympic Safi by allegedly saying: “It’s shameful to waste time when you’re playing for a big club, not for Olympic Safi.”
The remarks prompted a strong backlash. Olympic Safi’s board issued an official statement condemning what it described as “unethical behavior,” calling on the National Football League to launch an urgent investigation and impose strict disciplinary measures. The club also threatened to take legal action to defend its reputation and dignity.
For his part, Banoun denied intentionally insulting or belittling Olympic Safi, explaining that his exchange with Wydad’s Abdelghafour Lamirat “was taken out of context.” He said it was merely a reminder of an earlier incident when Lamirat played for Olympic Safi.
The former international defender reiterated his full respect for the city of Safi, its fans, and the club’s history, offering a sincere apology to anyone who felt offended or misinterpreted his words. He stressed that his relationship with all Moroccan clubs is based on mutual respect and sportsmanship, and that he would never accept crossing the line from fair criticism to personal insults.
Banoun also announced that he is taking legal action against certain social media pages that, he claims, defamed his family and shared their photos. He described this as “crossing a red line that cannot be overlooked.”