The decision by Real Betis to register Moroccan international Sofyan Amrabat under his Dutch nationality instead of Moroccan in the Spanish league records has sparked widespread controversy, despite the player representing Morocco internationally.

This move is due to La Liga regulations that allow clubs only three slots for non-European Union players. Since Morocco is not classified as part of the EU, registering Amrabat as Moroccan would have cost Betis one of these slots, prompting the club to use his Dutch nationality to avoid this restriction.

The Spanish club announced it reached an agreement with Turkish club Fenerbahçe to loan Sofyan Amrabat until the end of the season. The deal was closed in the final hours of the transfer window, giving the player a new opportunity in La Liga after previous experiences with various European clubs.

Betis’s decision is purely administrative and does not change Amrabat’s international status, as he remains a key player for the Moroccan national team, the Atlas Lions. FIFA recognizes his representation of Morocco, and his registration in La Liga under Dutch nationality does not affect this status.

Unlike Amrabat, Abdel Samad El Yousoufi does not face a similar issue, as he holds both Spanish and Moroccan nationalities, making him a full European player under La Liga rules and thus not occupying one of the limited non-European slots.