The two-match suspension of Morocco coach Walid Regragui at the Africa Cup of Nations has been overturned after an appeal, the Moroccan football federation announced on Friday.
Regragui had originally been given a four-match ban, with two games suspended, and fined for bringing the competition into disrepute.
The decision to dismiss the suspension means that Regragui, who had to watch his country’s last group game against Zambia on Wednesday from the stands, will be back on the bench for the last-16 clash against South Africa on Tuesday.
Regragui, who led his country to the World Cup semi-finals in 2022, was involved in an on-field altercation with Democratic Republic of Congo captain Chancel Mbemba at the end of their Group F match in San Pedro on Sunday.
The incident led to scuffles between opposing players and staff on the pitch and alleged fighting in the tunnel at the stadium, away from public view.
Accounts of the incident describe Regragui holding Mbemba’s hand as he tried to remonstrate with the defender, who repeatedly tried to break free before succeeding.
The confrontation resulted in chaos at the end of a 1-1 draw.
“He insulted me and my assistant on the sidelines before the end of the match,” Regragui told reporters.
Regragui then explained, “And in the end, despite that, I went to shake his hand but also to ask him: ‘Why are you talking to me like that?’ Then he looked away like he didn’t want to shake my hand.”
He concluded, “He claimed I had called him an idiot but I never said that. He should be a little honest with himself.”
Morocco’s football federation condemned the decision, but its appeal was only successful hours before the Zambia game, during which Regragui was in the VIP stand, communicating with his bench as assistant Rachid Ben Mahmoud replaced him on the touchline.
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson, editing by Ed Osmond)
