Moroccans face World Cup flight cancellations, excitement undimmed

RABAT/DOHA : Hundreds of Moroccan soccer fans desperate to reach Qatar to watch their team become the first from an Arab or African country play in a World Cup semi-final were left stranded on Wednesday as Morocco's airline scrapped several extra flights.

The cancellations, which Royal Air Maroc (RAM) blamed on the Qatari authorities, left travellers downcast but did not dampen a party mood in the North African country before Wednesday's match against France, Morocco's former coloniser and now home to many Moroccan players.

Morocco's success so far has been cheered in bars or cafes from Baghdad to Bamako as fans have celebrated its victories against top ranked European teams, such as Spain and Portugal, in the first World Cup hosted by an Arab country.

Thousands of Moroccans have already travelled to Qatar and hundreds more had raced to buy tickets at the last minute, with RAM promising more tickets on 30 extra flights. But a source at a RAM travel agency said only 14 flights had been scheduled.

"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 an emailed statement.

The Qatari government's international media office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Youssef Chippo, a Moroccan former national team player working in Qatar as a commentator for BeIn sports channel, said the flight cancellations were linked to the arrival of many fans in Doha without match tickets.

Moroccan fans have at times scuffled with police in previous knockout games in Qatar, a wealthy but tiny nation, as thousands of people arrived at stadiums without tickets and tried to enter.

At Doha