Legal Ruling on Senegalese Fans' Sentences in Morocco
In a significant legal development, the Appeals Court in Rabat, Morocco, has upheld the prison sentences imposed on 18 Senegalese fans who were arrested in January following the tumultuous events during the recent Africa Cup of Nations final. The original court ruling had sentenced these fans to prison terms ranging from three months to one year due to their involvement in violent incidents that occurred during the match between Morocco and Senegal on January 18, 2026. The confirmation of these sentences was reported late last night by Moroccan news outlet Hespress.
Details of the Incidents and Legal Consequences
The fans were found guilty of engaging in acts of violence, particularly against Moroccan security forces, and were charged with vandalizing sports facilities, invading the pitch, and throwing projectiles. Initially, nine fans received one-year sentences accompanied by a fine of 5,000 dirhams (approximately $500), while six others were sentenced to six months in prison with a fine of 2,000 dirhams (around $200). Three fans were sentenced to three months in jail along with a 1,000 dirham fine (about $100). Additionally, a French fan of Algerian descent was sentenced to three months in prison and fined 1,000 dirhams for throwing a water bottle onto the field. Reports indicate that the fans sentenced to three months will be released starting next Saturday, as noted by French network RMC Sport.
As the legal proceedings unfolded, the public prosecution called for harsher penalties for the fans, arguing that the initial sentences were too lenient given the severity of the incidents. Conversely, the fans have maintained their innocence, asserting that they did not commit any wrongdoing. Their defense attorney emphasized that their actions were not malicious, claiming that their invasion of the pitch was an attempt to avoid injury or confrontation amid the chaos of the match.
Violence erupted during the match after a penalty was awarded to Morocco in stoppage time, shortly following the disallowance of a goal by Senegal. The Senegalese players protested the referee's decision, leading to their temporary withdrawal from the field. After a brief period, they returned to play, only to see Moroccan player Ibrahim Diaz miss the crucial penalty. In extra time, Senegal managed to score the winning goal by Bamba Dieng. Less than two months after the conclusion of the match, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) controversially ruled Senegal as the losing team in the final and awarded the title to Morocco, a decision that Senegal plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
As reported by aljazeera.net.
