Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi criticizes the match officiating after France’s first goal in their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final, arguing that VAR should have reviewed a possible handball during the buildup. Ouahbi says “some players stopped” and contends the incident warranted scrutiny, but VAR did not carry out a check. Times of India reports the coach also frames his team’s performance more broadly: Morocco had a difficult first half, struggled with possession transitions, and lacked creativity against France’s strong side. The coach acknowledges that France ultimately deserves to win, while still disputing the absence of a VAR intervention tied to the first goal. Despite the loss, he presents the defeat as part of a broader development process, saying Morocco is closing the gap with elite teams. The dispute centers on whether the handball claim is significant enough to affect the goal and whether VAR’s protocol was followed.