The whistle of Jilali Gharib falls silent forever.

The former Moroccan international referee, Jalal Ghareeb, passed away today, Sunday, and is considered one of the most prominent names in the world of refereeing in the country.

Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, extended his heartfelt condolences and sincere feelings of sympathy to the family of Jalal Ghareeb and to the family of national football.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation praised the late referee's officiating career in a statement, considering him one of the most notable names that marked the history of Moroccan refereeing, after he became the first Moroccan referee to participate in the World Cup finals, following his appointment as an assistant referee in the 1994 World Cup in the United States, a historic achievement that opened the door for generations of Moroccan referees to shine on the international stage.

The statement clarified that the late referee participated in managing several World Cup matches and was part of the officiating team that managed the third-place match between Sweden and Bulgaria on July 16, 1994, which ended with Sweden winning four goals to none.

The deceased also participated in officiating matches in the Asian Cup finals and the Olympic Games, contributing to enhancing Morocco's presence in international football events.