Morocco has banned private football academies from using the names of foreign clubs. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announced the decision on Sunday as part of new rules for private football academies and schools.
The ban covers academies that use the names of foreign clubs, as well as those that have partnerships or other links with them.
The federation wants private academies to follow a national system for training young players. The aim is to improve coaching, strengthen local football and give the academies more independence while keeping them in line with national football plans.
The new rule could affect academies linked to major European clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona and Juventus.
The FRMF has been building a larger system for developing young players. Football investment in the country regularly exceeds $100m a year, with money going towards infrastructure, grassroots academies and national-team preparation.
The Mohammed VI Football Academy is a key part of that system. It opened in 2009 after an initial investment of $14m.
The academy has produced several players who later became important members of the national team, including Youssef En-Nesyri, Azzedine Ounahi and Nayef Aguerd.
More than 200 artificial-turf pitches have also been upgraded across the country. Twenty regional youth training centres have been built under the national technical development strategy.
The new rules will require private academies to follow the national technical curriculum.
