Genesis and institutionalization of modern sport in northern Morocco under the Spanish Protectorate

Abstract

This article aims to describe the process of anchoring, institutionalization and diffusion of modern sport in northern Morocco, and in Tetouan in particular, the capital of the Spanish protectorate (1913-1956). By referring to works describing some of the sports and physical activities practised in schools during the protectorate period, and by relying on some issues of the Spanish press of the protectorate period, the paper shows that although the British are to be credited with the introduction of the game of football and its relative diffusion in some cities and towns of northern Morocco, its supervised practice is mainly the responsibility of the colonists and the Spanish military. These two precursors of football in Morocco during colonization organized and practised it for entertainment purposes, mainly for the benefit of the Moroccan Spaniards. However, if the Europeans forbade Moroccans to take part in military gymnastics because it was considered dangerous, sport, which was considered a game and had no political charge, seemed less dangerous and, consequently, more accessible to the indigenous Muslims. The latter took advantage of this to appropriate a new culture while remaining totally absent from the management and decision-making structures.