Fouzi Lekjaa

Fouzi Lekjaa
Lekjaa in 2024
15th President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation
Incumbent
Assumed office 2014
Preceded by	Ali Fassi-Fihri
In office 2013–2013
Preceded by	Ali Fassi-Fihri
Succeeded by	Ali Fassi-Fihri
Delegate-Ministry to the Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of the Budget
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 October 2021
Monarch	Mohammed VI of Morocco
Prime Minister	Aziz Akhannouch
Personal details
Born	Fouzi Lekjaa (1970-07-22) 22 July 1970 (age 54)[1] Berkane, Morocco
Occupation	Member, FIFA Council

Fouzi Lekjaa (Berber: ⴼⵓⵣⵉ ⵍⴻⵇⵊⴰⵄ Arabic: فوزي لقجع; born on 23 July 1970) is a senior Moroccan civil servant, sports executive and politician, who is the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation since 2014, and a member of the FIFA Council since 2021. On 7 October 2021 he was appointed Minister Delegate for the Budget.^[2] He also holds the position of President of the CAF Finance Commission and Vice-President of the Commission in charge of the organization of interclub competitions and the management of the club licensing system within CAF.^[3]

Since his appointment in 2017, he has overseen the management of the Mohammed VI Football Complex, inaugurated in 2019 in the presence of King Mohammed VI. In 2023, he was again designated to chair the Committee in charge of the joint candidacy of Morocco, Spain and Portugal for the organization of the 2030 World Cup.

Fouzi Lekjaa has been serving in the Aziz Akhannouch administration as the Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget since 2021.^[4] As soon as he was hired, he was in charge of allocating the 10 billion dirhams earmarked for financing the special programme intended to lessen the consequences of delayed rains in accordance with High Royal Directives.

Fouzi Lekjaa, a prominent figure in both Morocco and Africa, stands up for "the supreme national interest" and supports Morocco in disputes involving the country's politics and diplomacy. He also opposes discussion of Western Sahara and its political party, the Polisario Front.^[5]

Early life

Fouzi Lekjaa was born in Berkane on 23 July 1970, to a middle-class family. He spent his childhood in this city where he obtained his baccalaureate before starting higher studies in Rabat. His father is a former Arabic teacher who started his career in Berkane.^[6]

As he specialized in sports and a graduate in agricultural engineering from the National School of Administration, Lekjaa began his career as a financial inspector. He was appointed head of the agricultural sector and compensation division at the budget department of the finance ministry in 2000. In the same year, he took on a role in the technical staff of the RS Berkane team, an amateur club playing in the Moroccan third division. He takes part in the club's infrastructure projects and gradually builds governance, organization and professionalization of the club with the help of his financial resources.

Its improvement work allows the validation of several lawns in the Berkane region as well as the development of several amateur clubs in the best conditions. Lekjaa gained notoriety in 2009 when he became the manager of his hometown club, the Berkane Sports Renaissance. It sets up a training center based in the same city for young talents evolving in the city, but also elsewhere in Morocco.

Administrative career

Entry into the management of RS Berkane

In 2009, Lekjaa was appointed president of the Berkane Sports Renaissance Club.^[7]

Having created financial stability within the club, several sponsors come forward. In two seasons, he managed to get his club up to Botola Pro, from which the club had been absent since 1984. RS Berkane knew in such a short time a huge margin of financial and sporting progress.

Lekjaa quickly created a bond of friendship with Ilyas El Omari, club president at Chabab Rif Al Hoceima, who also has the same background as him.

Presidency of the FRMF

Lekjaa has been the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) since 13 April 2014, when he succeeded Ali Fassi Fihri.^[8] Under his leadership, he quickly established a structure within the federation by developing 16 clubs in Moroccan D1 and 16 clubs in D2. The amateur class has a hundred clubs organized in regional league. At the level of each league, there are on average 120 clubs. The president obliges each club, of all levels, to have at least three classes of young people: the U17s, the U20s and the hopes. It modernizes and professionalizes infrastructure developments across the country.

Lekjaa is also building political will with King Mohammed VI, where the two men invest together in football projects.

In a record time of five years, they managed to launch the construction of the Mohammed VI complex in Salé. The complex is spread over 30 hectares and houses a capacity of 480 young footballers. It has nine training rooms, a covered room, a medical clinic that covers 400 square meters. This project cost $65,000,000. It was inaugurated in 2019.

On 25 June 2022, was reelected president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), during the elective general assembly of the Federation, held Friday at the Mohammed VI complex in Maamora.^[9] Lekjaa submitted his candidacy for the position on June 4, and was the only candidate, running for his third term in the same position.^[10][11]

On 1 October 2022, Morocco announced its willingness to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, after it was stripped from Guinea.^[12][13] On 27 September 2023, CAF announced that Morocco will host the 35th edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025.^[14][15]

Member of the CAF Council

In July 2017, he had been the 2nd vice-president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).^[16][17] On 2 April 2021, Lekjaa was Reappointed as Chairman of CAF Finance Committee.^[18][19]

On 13 March 2023, Algeria’s state media accused Lekjaa of “corruption” and “manipulation”, this led to a campaign across social media platforms demanding Lekjaa exit from the CAF Committee.^[20][21][22]

Member of the FIFA Council

In March 2021, he was elected to the FIFA Council.^[1][23]

Member of the Union of Arab Football Associations

On 17 June 2021, Lekjaa was Elected Member of Executive Council of Arab Football Associations Union.^[24][25]

2022 FIFA World Cup

On 28 December 2022, Lekjaa launched an investigation into the potentially illegal sale of 2022 FIFA World Cup tickets.^[26][27] and ticketing problems in the Round of 16 Morocco vs Spain match.^{[28][29][30][31]} On 8 March, Lekjaa confirmed the investigation is near to end, claiminig the results will be out “very soon,” revealing the federation’s determination to “end the career” of those responsible for the tickets fiasco.^[32] On 8 May 2023, Two individuals suspected behind the world scandal were taken in for questioning at the prosecutor’s office in the Court of First Instance of Casablanca on Monday, one was a club manager and the other was a radio host.^[33][34] Mohammed El Haidaoui, and radio host Adil El Omari were charged for fraud.^[35][36]

2030 FIFA World Cup

On 16 June 2023, King Mohammed VI assigned Lekjaa as the president of Morocco's Bid Committee.^[37][38] On 4 October 2023, The FIFA Executive Committee has unanimously accepted the Morocco-Spain-Portugal bid as a candidate to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.^[39][40][41] Next Day, King Mohammed VI appointed Lekjaa as the Chairman of 2030 World Cup Committee.^[42][43]

Honours

• Ydnekatchew Tessema Trophy for the Federation President of the Year: 2018^[44][45]
• Best federation president in the Arab world awarded by Sky News Arabia: 2023^[46][47]

Orders

• Order of the Throne: 2022^[48]

References

1. FIFA.com. "FIFA Council Members". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
2. "Fouzi Lekjaa félicité par son homologue djiboutien" (in French). 9 October 2021.
3. "Fouzi Lekjaa Reappointed as Chairman of CAF Finance Committee | MapNews". www.mapnews.ma. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
4. "List of new Government Members of the Kingdom of Morocco". Embassy of Kingdom of Morocco in Vietnam. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
5. François Koundouno, Tamba. "CAF Acknowledges Morocco's Contribution in Advancing African Football". Morocco World News. p. 1.
6. "Maroc : enquête sur l'inoxydable Fouzi Lekjaa – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). 2019-09-12. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
7. MATIN, Hafsa Sakhi, LE. "Le Matin - Lekjaa remporte les élections à l'unanimité". Le Matin (in French). Retrieved 2021-04-27.
8. "Élection de Fouzi Lekjaâ au conseil de la Fifa". Maroc hebdo. 25 March 2021.
9. "Fouzi Lekjaa reelected FRMF president for third term". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2022-06-25. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
10. "Fouzi Lekjaa submits candidacy for third term as head of FRMF". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2022-06-07. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
11. Aamari, Oussama. "Fouzi Lejaa Only Candidate to Succeed Himself as FRMF President". moroccoworldnews. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
12. "Morocco plans to bid for 2025 AFCON tournament". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
13. "Guinea stripped of hosting 2025 Africa Cup of Nations". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
14. "Morocco to host 2025 Africa Cup of Nations". CAF. 2023-09-27. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
15. "Official: Morocco to host CAF's 35th African Cup of Nations for 2025". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2023-09-27. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
16. "Lekjaa elected 3rd vice-president of CAF". Le 360 Sport. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
17. "Six Moroccans At CAF Standing Committees". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2020-05-20. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
18. "Fouzi Lekjaa Reappointed as Chairman of CAF Finance Committee". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2021-04-02. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
19. Guessous, Hamza. "CAF Re-Appoints Morocco's Fouzi Lekjaa As Finance Committee Chairman". moroccoworldnews. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
20. Rahhou, Jihane. "New Algerian Campaign Targets Morocco's Football Federation President Lekjaa". moroccoworldnews. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
21. "حملة تشهير رقمية جزائرية تستهدف رئيس الجامعة الملكية لكرة القدم". Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية (in Arabic). 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
22. "Regragui réagit à la campagne contre Fouzi Lekjaa". Hespress Français - Actualités du Maroc (in French). 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
23. "Morocco's Fouzi Lekjaa Elected to FIFA Council". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2021-03-12. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
24. "Morocco's Lekjaa Elected Member of Executive Council of Arab Football Associations Union". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2021-06-17. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
25. Mazouz, Salah Eddine. "Morocco's Fouzi Lekjaa Elected Member of UAFA's Executive Committee". moroccoworldnews. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
26. Hooper, Olivia. "World Cup: Morocco's Football Federation Investigates 'Illegal' Ticket Sales". moroccoworldnews. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
27. "Morocco's FRMF investigates Qatar FIFA World Cup ticket sales". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2022-12-28. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
28. "A potential for problems here". The Guardian. 6 December 2022. Tweet from a little over one hour before game begins
29. "Looks like things are getting fraught outside the stadium". The Guardian. 6 December 2022. Tweet from around 12 minutes before game begins
30. "58 min: Outside the ground, there's been some regrettable scenes". The Guardian. 6 December 2022. Tweet showing secrity attacking fans still stranded outside stadium in second half / Tweet showing screenshot of a ticket
31. "So this second incident happened when the spectator entrance was shut. It had stayed open during first half so fans getting late tickets could still enter". The Guardian. 6 December 2022. Tweet noted by The Guardian after 84 minutes of play.
32. Rahhou, Jihane. "Moroccan Federation Vows to 'End Career' of Those Responsible for World Cup Tickets Fiasco". moroccoworldnews. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
33. Rahhou, Jihane. "World Cup Tickets Scandal: Journalist, Sports Official Brought in for Questioning". moroccoworldnews. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
34. "Public Prosecution pushes for further investigation into the Qatar World Cup ticket controversy". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2023-05-09. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
35. "El Haidaoui, El Omari charged with fraud in World Cup ticket scandal". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2023-07-26. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
36. Rahhou, Jihane. "Olympique Safi President Al-Haidawi Arrested Regarding World Cup Ticket Scandal". moroccoworldnews. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
37. Kasraoui, Safaa. "World Cup 2030: King Mohammed VI Assigns Presidency of Morocco's Bid Committee to Lekjaa". moroccoworldnews. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
38. "King names Fawzi Lakjaa president of Morocco's committee in 2030 FIFA World Cup bid". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2023-06-16. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
39. "FIFA accepts Morocco-Spain-Portugal World Cup bid, King announces". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
40. Kasraoui, Safaa (4 October 2023). "Morocco, Spain, and Portugal Confirmed as Joint Hosts of 2030 World Cup". Morocco World News. p. 1. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
41. Team, Newslooks (2023-10-04). "Morocco, Spain and Portugal to host 2030 World Cup". NewsLooks. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
42. "King Mohammed VI appoints Lekjaa as Chairman of 2030 World Cup Committee". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
43. Aamari, Oussama (5 October 2023). "King Mohammed VI Appoints Fouzi Lekjaa as President of 2030 World Cup Committee". Morocco World News. p. 1. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
44. Eludini, Tunde. "Salah retains African best player award, Oshoala dethroned". premiumtimesng. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
45. Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "Aiteo CAF Awards 2018: Winners". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
46. "Sky News Arabia honours a distinct array of Arab and international sports stars". The Sport Feed. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
47. "LE MAROC, WALID REGRAGUI ET FOUZI LEKJAA, HONORÉS LORS DE « LA NUIT DES LÉGENDES » DE SKY NEWS ARABIA !". Le7tv.ma (in French). 2023-04-02. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
48. Zouiten, Sara. "King Mohammed VI Awards Atlas Lions with Wissams at Royal Reception". moroccoworldnews. Retrieved 2023-03-09.