DR ‹ › Amid controversy on social media between Moroccan and Egyptian fans following the circulation of videos showing some Egyptians celebrating the Moroccan national team's defeat, Egypt's Ministry of Youth and Sports issued an official statement reaffirming the strong, brotherly, and historical ties between the two countries, while rejecting any form of fanaticism or offensive behavior that could tarnish the image of Arab supporters. In an effort to ease tensions between the two fan bases, Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhy held a phone call with his Moroccan counterpart, Mohamed Saad Berrada, Minister of National Education, Preschool, and Sports. During the conversation, both ministers stressed the depth of the relations linking Egypt and Morocco, built over decades of cooperation and integration across various fields, particularly sports and youth affairs. According to the statement, the two officials underlined that sporting competition must remain within a civilized framework grounded in mutual respect and fair play. They emphasized that sport should serve as a bridge between peoples rather than a source of division or tension, describing it as a form of soft power capable of strengthening relations between brotherly nations. In this context, the Egyptian minister praised Morocco's successful organization of the African football tournament and reiterated his rejection of any behavior that could fuel fanaticism or harm the image of Arab fans or undermine relations between the two countries. For his part, the Moroccan minister welcomed the initiative, reaffirming Morocco's appreciation of its strategic relations with Egypt and its commitment to supporting efforts that promote Arab brotherhood, positive values, and sportsmanship among youth.
