Morocco unveils tougher anti-hooliganism strategy ahead of major sporting events

Morocco’s top security official chaired a high-level meeting Friday aimed at strengthening measures to combat sports-related violence and enhance security at stadiums and sporting venues ahead of major international events the country is set to host.

The meeting was led by Abdellatif Hammouchi, director general of National Security and Territorial Surveillance, at the new headquarters of the General Directorate of National Security in Rabat.

According to a statement from Moroccan security authorities, the gathering marked the second strategic meeting dedicated to updating and reinforcing the national security action plan for crowd control and sports security.

The session followed an initial meeting held earlier in the week with senior central security officials to assess the effectiveness of existing stadium safety protocols and identify areas for modernization.

Friday’s expanded meeting brought together directors of central security departments, the head of the National Sports Security Division, and police chiefs from Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Kenitra, Tetouan, Fez and Marrakech.

Officials discussed ways to integrate regional security plans into a unified national strategy to address sports-related violence, which authorities said negatively affects Morocco’s international image and threatens public safety and sports infrastructure.

Presentations focused on updated security protocols for high-risk sporting events, including the expanded use of video surveillance systems, drones and mobile command centers to monitor crowd movements, identify security threats and coordinate responses.

Hammouchi emphasized the importance of intelligence gathering to identify high-risk matches and strengthen security arrangements, including the deployment of elite police units, intervention forces and specialized security teams to secure stadiums and surrounding areas.

Participants also reviewed proposals aimed at improving operational coordination between security services during supporter movements and travel, increasing the systematic use of video evidence to document acts of violence and enhancing the readiness of public security forces to protect sporting venues.

Authorities stressed the need for strict enforcement of the law both inside stadiums and in surrounding urban areas, while ensuring that individuals involved in violence or vandalism are identified and prosecuted through appropriate judicial procedures.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of strengthening information-sharing mechanisms concerning groups that promote sports-related violence and using intelligence analysis to develop proactive security plans.

Moroccan officials said the discussions would serve as the foundation for a new sports security framework based on strategic deployment of security forces, improved crowd management, early detection of potential disturbances and a balance between maintaining public order and preserving the spectator experience.