Questions are being raised inside Moroccan football after several injured players were called up to the national team, despite concerns over their fitness. The situation has reignited the debate around who is responsible for such decisions: head coach Walid Regragui, the national team’s medical staff, or the clubs.
The central issue is whether the medical department has the authority to refuse a call-up when a player is not fit, even if the coach insists on having him in the squad. The discussion has grown louder because injuries have affected more than one name recently, putting the spotlight on the process behind final selections.
In Morocco’s set-up, the coach is the one who announces the list, but the medical staff is expected to assess the condition of each player, follow up on reports sent by clubs, and take decisions based on medical facts. That has led many to ask whether the medical team is simply there to manage injuries after players arrive, or if it can block a call-up before it happens.
What has been revealed is that the responsibility is shared: clubs provide medical reports and updates, while the national team’s staff evaluates the information and can request further checks. However, the final call remains closely linked to the coach’s choices, especially when he believes a player could recover in time or be used in a limited role.
The debate, therefore, is not only about injured players being included, but also about the balance of power between technical decisions and medical responsibility. It is a sensitive point, because any mistake could risk a player’s health and also affect the team’s performance.
