Hundreds of Moroccan football fans are heartbroken when last-minute flight cancellations prevent them from traveling to Qatar for Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final.
Royal Air Maroc, Morocco’s official carrier, had planned to operate seven additional flights ahead of the game.
It made the decision after Morocco’s FA promised 13,000 free tickets to the match against France.
However, it was announced on Wednesday that Qatari officials had stopped the flights.
“Following the latest restrictions imposed by the Qatari authorities Royal Air Maroc regrets to inform customers of the cancellation of their flights operated by Qatar Airways,” the airline said in a statement to the Reuters news agency.
It’s unclear why Qatari officials ordered the flights to be cancelled, and the government’s central communications office has yet to react to a BBC request for comment.
In a post on its social media pages on Monday, the airline offered 30 more flights as part of a “special flight schedule” to assist fans in getting to Qatar.
However, affiliated travel agents later stated that there will be only seven additional flights.
Many fans who had already bought tickets and hotel rooms were left out of pocket as a result of the cancellations.
The airline issued a comprehensive apology and promised to pay travelers.
Meanwhile, a number of Moroccan expatriates have arrived in Qatar, drawn by the prospect of free tickets from the country’s football association.
It is estimated that there are over five million Moroccans living throughout the world, with the majority of them residing in France.
However, as fans arrived at the Al Janoub stadium’s fan centres, many of whom were carrying Moroccan flags and caps to protect themselves from the heat, they were disappointed when the FA’s promised free tickets did not materialize.
Zineb Nfati, who is half-French and half-Moroccan, told the BBC that she had traveled from Paris for the game but had been unable to acquire a ticket, which shattered her heart.
“This is a very symbolic game – it’s Morocco against France and I’m half-French, half-Moroccan,” she said.
“The problem is there are no reliable sources. There is no reliable information,” Ms Nfati said. “I came here with my brother and I don’t know what we’ll do… I’m heartbroken.”
This is the first time an African team has reached this round of football’s most prestigious competition, despite its French opponents being widely favored to proceed to the final against Argentina.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui, who grew up in Paris, believes his team is confident and does not want to “wait another 40 years for an African team” to emerge on the international arena.