20-team proposal faces reservations in Moroccan football

A proposal to expand Morocco's professional football leagues from 16 to 20 teams has garnered majority support from participating clubs during a meeting at the Royal Moroccan Football Federation headquarters. The initiative aims to provide more opportunities for young players.

Despite the majority vote, the proposal's final adoption hinges on its compliance with legal and regulatory provisions. The expansion represents a fundamental change to the competition system, particularly after sporting results and playoff matches have already determined the current league structures. Clubs like Wydad AC and MAS Fes abstained from voting, requesting a comprehensive project review before taking a final stance.

Several clubs, including AS FAR, Raja CA, FUS Rabat, and others, have voiced opposition. They argue that amending the competition system retroactively could raise legal questions regarding the stability of sporting rules and the rights of clubs that made decisions based on the existing 16-team format. Concerns also include the impact on promotion and relegation, as well as the fairness of results achieved under the previous system.

Discussions also focused on the need for a complete project proposal that addresses the ramifications of expansion on scheduling, finances, infrastructure, refereeing, and broadcasting. Some experts suggest a gradual increase, first to 18 teams for the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 seasons, followed by an evaluation before potentially moving to 20 teams. The proposal and meeting outcomes will be submitted to the Professional Football League's board and the Laws and Regulations Committee for further review.