Ziyech’s Wydad Debut Hangs in Balance: Moroccan Football Faces Regulatory Dilemma

The crux of the debate lies in the fact that Ziyech signed as a free agent, outside the official transfer window periods. While this status allowed him to commit to a club, the regulations of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) appear to be very strict regarding the registration of licenses outside these transfer windows, as reported by Al3omk.

Indeed, Article 6 of the FRMF transfer regulations stipulates that "it is not possible to register a player outside the two transfer periods set by the Federation". Unlike certain European legislations, the Moroccan text does not explicitly mention a clear exception for free players, creating an area of interpretation, especially since this type of high-level transfer outside the transfer window is unprecedented in Morocco.

Sports law expert Mohamed Mojtahed analyzed the situation. He notes that Article 6 provides for exceptions, particularly in the event of the end of a contract or termination. However, he emphasizes a crucial condition often required: "the player must be free before the closing date of the transfer period of the Federation to which the club he is joining belongs". Since Ziyech became free after the closing of the summer transfer window, this condition would not be met.

The expert’s conclusion is therefore that "based on the Federation’s regulations, the player Ziyech can only be registered during the next transfer period" in January. He also recalls the principle aimed at "preserving the sporting integrity of the competition" by limiting registrations outside the transfer window.

Despite this legal analysis, uncertainty remains. According to sources, the Federation and the Professional League have not yet officially ruled on the case. Interpretations would differ internally on the possibility for Ziyech to play before the winter transfer window. In the meantime, Wydad officially announced the signing of the Moroccan international for a period of one and a half years on Thursday evening.