Royal Pardon for Senegalese Supporters After AFCON Violence
In a compassionate gesture reflecting the deep-rooted friendship between Morocco and Senegal, King Mohammed VI has granted a royal pardon to the Senegalese football supporters who were incarcerated following the violent incidents during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final held in Rabat. This decision, announced by the royal court, comes on the grounds of humanitarian reasons and coincides with the celebration of Eid al-Adha, a significant holiday in the Islamic calendar, which will be observed in Morocco.
In February, Moroccan judicial authorities sentenced a total of 18 Senegalese fans, who had been detained since the tumultuous final, with prison terms ranging from three months to a year. Notably, three of these supporters were released earlier in mid-April after serving their three-month sentences. The remaining 15 fans continued to face imprisonment with sentences of six months to one year. The recent royal pardon is anticipated to apply to these individuals, marking a significant turn of events in their legal struggles.
Lawyer Patrick Kabou, who represented many of the detained supporters, informed the media that their release is expected to occur by late Saturday. The charges against the fans stemmed largely from video evidence captured by surveillance cameras at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium during the final match, as well as medical reports concerning injuries sustained by law enforcement officials and stadium staff. The financial ramifications of the violence were significant, with damages estimated at over 370,000 euros (approximately $430,000).
The tumult began following a controversial pitch invasion in response to a late penalty awarded to Morocco during the final match on January 18. The game was interrupted for 14 minutes as Senegal's players and staff protested the decision. Despite the tension, Morocco missed the penalty, and Senegal ultimately secured a 1-0 victory in injury time. However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) intervened on March 17, reversing the match outcome to a 3-0 victory for Morocco after determining that Senegal violated tournament regulations by leaving the field. In light of these events, Senegal has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with a ruling potentially taking up to a year.
As reported by uk.news.yahoo.com.
