Morocco to set up courts in stadiums to tackle fan offences at 2030 World Cup
According to Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi, the changes would prevent Moroccan courts from being overwhelmed by cases during the global sporting event.
Morocco will introduce special courts inside stadiums during the 2030 FIFA World Cup to quickly deal with fan-related offences as part of legal reforms ahead of co-hosting the tournament with Spain and Portugal.
According to Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi, the changes would prevent Moroccan courts from being overwhelmed by cases during the global sporting event.
"Committees presided over by prosecutors, working with judicial and security services inside stadiums, will ensure swift handling of incidents while respecting due process," he told Reuters in a written response.
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An estimated 26 million visitors are expected to travel to Morocco for the tournament, compared to 17.4 million this year, as the government prepares for a tourism boom.
Abdellatif added that Morocco is currently learning from how past World Cups and Olympic Games handled big crowds. Morocco will also sign agreements with Spain and Portugal to allow quick extraditions, transfer of cases, and legal cooperation across borders, according to the Minister.
He added that Morocco is also updating its family and criminal laws and introducing alternatives like electronic monitoring to reduce prison overcrowding, which is made worse by high numbers of people held before trial.
Similarly, Abdellatif stated that Morocco is also considering how to handle alcohol sales, which remain a sensitive issue. Although drinking is restricted under Moroccan law, it is still allowed in licensed venues.
"Discussions are ongoing about possible regulatory frameworks to address practices common among international supporters, including alcohol consumption, strictly within designated zones and under clearly defined conditions," he said.
Other proposals include creating multilingual legal desks for tourists, training judges to handle sports and tourism disputes, and encouraging mediation to resolve cases faster.
According to Abdellatif, the 2030 World Cup will serve not only as a major sporting event but also as a platform for Morocco to demonstrate its commitment to modern justice
Alongside legal reforms, Morocco is similarly building new stadiums, expanding airports and railways and adding more hotel rooms to prepare for the huge number of visitors expected during the tournament.
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