Historical document finds Moroccans played soccer more than three centuries ago
Morocco, Sports, 5/7/2004

An old document found in the library of the ancient Al-Kawawyine university of Fes (200 km east of Rabat), showed that soccer was practiced in Morocco more than three centuries ago and the kingdom was among the countries that participated in shaping the rules of the game.

The document is actually a Fatwa (religious edict) by an eminent scholar, Mufti (religious scholar) of Fez, Sheikh Abi Abdellah Arabi Ben Ahmed Bordollah (1631-1720). The scholar was asked to give his opinion in the case of "two football players who collided while playing football and one of them was fractured in the foot."

The scholar was asked if the wounded player had the right to compensation to pay fees of medical care.

The text of the Fatwa includes facts that prove the existence of rules of the game that evolved until they took the current shape.

This Fatwa evidences the open-mindedness of scholars of that era, contrary to what was believed about mentalities of at that time.

Rules regulating modern football have started to be set starting from 1873. It is only in 1886 that the International Board made the presence of a referee obligatory.

The curator of the Al Karawyine library, Ali Laghzioui, said this document is highly important given the status of the person who gave his opinion on the matter.

Football in Morocco was not only an entertainment game but an activity that led to Ijtihad (jurisprudence) in the field, said Laghzioui who deemed that Morocco should be proud of this "unique" experience.

He added that this document, which has never been published before, shows that Morocco is a pioneer nation in setting the rules of this game that is practiced by more than 200 million people in 192 countries throughout the world.

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