Fez football fans raise giant Tifo in defense of Morocco’s territorial integrity
Defending Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over the Sahara is a national cause of the Moroccan people including football fans. The supporters of MAS Fez gave the example drawing a giant tifo to express their attachment to the Kingdom’s sovereignty over the Sahara.
“The Sahara is our home,” shows a giant tifo composed of thousands of placards raised by MAS Fez football fans who also drew Morocco’s full map and the green star of the Moroccan flag. Underneath they pinned an enormous sign quoting King Mohammed VI saying the Sahara issue is “the benchmark whereby my country measures the sincerity of friendships and the efficiency of partnerships.”
The tifo was raised as Morocco makes inroads in support of its position on the Sahara issue and amid stabs in the back from neighboring Algeria and its new vassal state Tunisia.
Beyond artistic dimensions exhibited by MAS Fez fans and their diligence, the Tifo sends a clear message to the adversaries of Morocco’s territorial integrity. It shows that the Sahara and Morocco’s territorial integrity is a cause of the people at large and that any offense to Morocco’s sovereignty over any of its territories is an offense and provocation of the Moroccan people.
As global powers join a wave in support of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara territory, Tunisia chose to swim against the current and decided to offer a presidential welcome to head of separatist Polisario entity last month, a decision that angered Rabat which recalled its ambassador to Tunis.
Football fans in Morocco have often turned stadiums into podiums to express views that transcend the football pitch. For example, Fans of Raja Casablanca have often raised slogans demanding better living conditions.
Beyond the message, Moroccans football fans in various cities often turn stadiums into work of arts exhibiting artistic and organizational skills with impressive tifos that reflect passion for football and for their teams.
