Moroccan Court Confirms Sentences for Senegalese Fans Following AFCON 2025 Incident
On Monday, a Moroccan court upheld prison sentences ranging from three months to one year for 18 Senegalese supporters convicted of participating in riots during the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025. This event took place between the Senegalese and Moroccan national teams. The defendants maintained their innocence during the appeal process in the Rabat Court of Appeals, asserting that they were compelled to enter the field due to crowd surges or to escape from "spitting and projectile throwing," rather than protesting against a referee's decision. The public prosecutor's office, on the other hand, sought to intensify the penalties against them.
Background and Initial Sentencing
The initial convictions were issued on February 19, when the fans were sentenced to terms between three months and a year for their involvement in the disturbances. These individuals had been detained since the final match on February 18, where Senegal initially won 1-0 after extra time, only to later be declared the loser 0-3 as Morocco was awarded the title pending the outcome of an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). They faced charges related to "rioting," which encompassed acts of violence, particularly against security forces, vandalism of sports equipment, storming the field, and throwing objects.
During the court proceedings, most of the accused provided their testimonies in Wolof, which were translated into French and Arabic. They insisted that their entry onto the field was a reaction to crowd control issues, rather than a protest against officiating decisions.
As the defense attorney, Naima Elklaaf, requested the presentation of video evidence documenting the incidents cited by the prosecutor to ascertain whether the accused could be identified in the footage, the prosecution dismissed this request, asserting that the evidence of the alleged offenses was clear and widely witnessed by the public.
For nine of the defendants, the court's ruling on February 19 included a one-year prison sentence along with a fine of 5,000 dirhams (approximately 46 USD). The subsequent appeal process continues to unfold as the involved parties await further legal developments.
As reported by france24.com.
