The Federation royale marocaine de football (FRMF) has banned local football academies and training schools from using the names of foreign clubs, including where those institutions have formal partnerships or other links with teams from abroad.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Sunday. It applies to academies and football schools operating in Morocco that are named after overseas clubs, regardless of whether their relationship with those clubs is based on a partnership or another form of association.
The FRMF said the measure was intended to strengthen national involvement in player development and coaching. The federation said it aims to “renforcer la composante formation et l’encadrement national” – strengthen the national training and supervision structure.
It also said the policy would “instaurer le principe d’autonomie des academies et ecoles privees de Football en parfaite harmonie avec les orientations strategiques nationales de developpement du football” – establish the autonomy of private football academies and schools in line with Morocco’s national strategic objectives for football development.
The third stated objective is to “former de nouvelles generations de footballeurs dans un environnement compact” – develop new generations of footballers within a unified environment.
The decision places the future of Juventus Academy Maroc and other similarly named organisations under scrutiny. Those structures may now find themselves in conflict with the federation’s new approach to the organisation and identity of football academies in the country.
According to information from SNRTnews, the FRMF’s policy also requires academies and training schools to comply with strict standards covering infrastructure, equipment, insurance, safety and the qualifications of coaches.
The announcement comes at a time when Moroccan coaches are increasingly recognised across Africa and the Middle East, strengthening the federation’s emphasis on national expertise in the development and supervision of young players.
The FRMF’s statement therefore combines a naming restriction with wider requirements for how private academies operate. Its stated objective is to ensure that local training structures function independently while following Morocco’s broader plans for football development.
The ruling affects academies whose identities are directly connected to foreign clubs, including those that maintain partnerships or other ties with them. It remains particularly significant for organisations such as Juventus Academy Maroc, whose branding is based on that international connection.
The federation has presented the change as part of a wider effort to reinforce Morocco’s own football-training system, rather than allowing local academies to operate under imported club identities. Its policy places national supervision, independence and common standards at the centre of the development pathway.
For private schools and academies, compliance will extend beyond the names they use. They will also be expected to meet the requirements set out by the FRMF in areas ranging from facilities and equipment to insurance, security and coaching qualifications.
