The total budget of Morocco’s professional football league now stands at 965 million dirhams. The figure was announced on Friday, July 17, by Abdeslam Belkchour, president of the National Professional Football League (LNFP), during the resumption of the Executive Committee meeting of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
In his presentation, Abdeslam Belkchour highlighted the LNFP’s digital transformation between 2022 and 2026, saying it had modernized competition management and the services provided to clubs. That assessment should, however, be viewed in light of the numerous shortcomings that marked the previous season.
“Modernization” fails to erase shortcomings
Competition scheduling was particularly chaotic. The Throne Cup was postponed until the start of next season, while the promotion and relegation playoffs are still underway. The situation illustrates the gap between the administrative progress presented by the league and the reality of the national competition calendar.
Belkchour also addressed the transfer market, training centers, the presence of foreign players, and movement between professional and amateur clubs. These are important issues, but the Botola is still expected to make progress, particularly in youth development and the promotion of young players.
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Disputes also remain one of the main weak points of Moroccan professional football. Despite efforts to reduce the number of cases and speed up their resolution, their persistence reflects the financial and administrative fragility of several clubs, as well as the recurring failure to honor contractual commitments. In this area, the LNFP will have to go beyond simply handling cases by strengthening oversight and prevention mechanisms.
But beyond the review of the league’s activities and the announcement of the 965 million dirham budget, the meeting also outlined the next phase of reforms for professional football in Morocco.
Autonomy and marketing at the heart of the reform
Responding to Abdeslam Belkchour’s presentation, Fouzi Lekjaa called for granting the national leagues full autonomy in carrying out their responsibilities. He said this autonomy should be accompanied by closer coordination with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), in strict compliance with the applicable laws and regulations.
The FRMF president also set a deadline, calling on the national leagues to complete their move into their own headquarters before the end of 2026. He said the measure is intended to strengthen their institutional autonomy, improve governance and provide better working conditions for their staff.
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Sports marketing was also identified as a priority. Lekjaa called on the leagues to better promote their competitions and strengthen their commercial appeal. This approach is expected to enable the Botola to strengthen its revenue base and better capitalize on its economic potential.
Supporters, youth development and competition organization among key priorities
Supporters also feature prominently in the roadmap. The FRMF called for improving stadium reception conditions, reviewing access management, and strengthening both security and the quality of services provided to spectators. It also said the organization of matches should evolve to ensure more professional management of competitions.
Youth development was identified as another key priority. Lekjaa called for greater attention to youth competitions and age-group categories and urged discussions on mechanisms to better develop young players, particularly those representing Morocco’s national teams.
The reform process will also involve broader consultation. The LNFP will be tasked with organizing meetings with club presidents, coaches, the National Technical Directorate and national team coaches to discuss key issues related to competitions.
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On the sporting side, the FRMF Executive Committee approved an LNFP proposal allowing league matches to be postponed when more than three players from the same club are called up to the senior national team.
Under this roadmap, the LNFP is now expected to translate the announced priorities into concrete measures. The Botola’s total budget, estimated at 965 million dirhams, could increase through a genuine marketing strategy capable of attracting new partners and enhancing the value of the competitions. The additional revenue will be used to finance the announced initiatives, particularly improvements to match organization, supporter services and youth development. The league’s economic development will also need to be accompanied by more autonomous and more effective governance.
