Casablanca’s Wydad v Raja derby lays bare a city’s febrile heartbeat | OneFootball

Casablanca hosts one of the world’s fiercest derbies, Wydad v Raja, staged this year under tight police watch rather than behind closed doors as the city readies CAN games and looks to 2030. According to L'Équipe, the spectacle is as gripping in the stands as on the pitch.

The latest meeting came on 29 October in the 5th round of the Botola Pro at Mohammed V Stadium. Hours before kick-off, chants rolled around and groups without tickets forced entry as security scrambled. Police detained teenagers while scuffles flared nearby.

Supporters in red chased Raja fans, a scooter rider wobbled amid the chaos, and neutral colours felt safest. The rivalry is etched on city walls and inside the ground tifos and pyrotechnics dominated attention until the 20th minute. Wydad’s Winners unfurled a mosaic called "The Last Twins", mocking ructions between the Green Boys and Ultras Eagles.

Wydad, founded in 1937 under the French protectorate, have 22 league titles and three African Champions Leagues. Raja’s identity leans to expressive football long cherished in Derb Sultan and other working-class districts. Both clubs have been ever-present in the top flight since 1956.

The ultra rivalry lifted the spectacle then soured in the mid-2010s with fights and damage nearby. In spring 2016, the Casablanca-Settat wilaya outlawed ultras after clashes among Raja followers left two dead and more than 70 injured, though groups later returned. Last season the first leg was behind closed doors at Larbi-Zaouli and the return at Mohammed V was boycotted.

Source: L'Équipe