Moroccan international referee Bouchra Karboubi has spoken publicly for the first time since announcing her retirement on Wednesday two months ago, saying her decision to step away from refereeing was driven by dignity and personal conviction, not a lack of competence or ambition.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Karboubi addressed widespread speculation surrounding her withdrawal from football, rejecting claims that she lacked experience or merit. “I was not a novice referee,” she wrote. She had been among “Africa’s top officials” and was even a candidate for the 2026 World Cup, while representing Morocco “in the best possible way,” she posted.
Karboubi said her decision came after enduring what she described as “injustice,” “marginalization,” and “repeated humiliation.” She framed her retirement as a conscious stand, explaining that her withdrawal was an objection to having been treated unfairly rather than an escape. “I succeeded,” she said, but chose self-respect and faith over remaining in an environment she felt compromised her dignity.
Her comments come amid lingering controversy caused by her exclusion from the list of Moroccan referees selected for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, released in November 2025. Hours after the list was released, Karboubi announced that she was retiring effective immediately.
In a letter sent at the time to Royal Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa, Karboubi accused the National Refereeing Directorate of blocking her progress and forcing a premature end to her career. She did not specify the reason behind the allegations.
In her latest message, Karboubi said that while she had stepped away from refereeing, she had gained something greater: the love and respect of Moroccans. “I withdrew from officiating,” she wrote, “but I earned the trust and affection of my country, . . . and that is priceless.”
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