The Rabat Court of Appeal has once again postponed the hearings concerning the case of 18 Senegalese supporters who were convicted following violent disturbances during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final. This ongoing legal matter continues to capture public attention, particularly as defense attorneys challenge the evidence presented against their clients and seek to hold broader parties accountable for the events that transpired.
During the latest session held on Monday, the defense team made a request to summon Patrice Motsepe, the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), to provide testimony regarding the organization of the tournament. Additionally, advocates for the accused sought to have the court review video footage that was used by investigators to assess the involvement of each supporter in the riots. However, the prosecution countered these motions by asserting that the footage would not significantly contribute to the case, and also argued that Motsepe's testimony would not clarify the accusations. Ultimately, the court sided with the prosecution, leading to a further delay without establishing a new hearing date.
The backdrop to this case involves the arrest of the 18 supporters after clashes erupted in Rabat during the AFCON final match between Morocco and Senegal. In March, the CAF’s Appeal Board awarded the title of the AFCON final to Morocco, recognizing that Senegal had violated the tournament's regulations. Earlier, in February, the Rabat court handed down prison sentences ranging from three months to one year for the fans, coupled with fines for various charges, including rioting, violence against security personnel, destruction of stadium property, pitch invasion, and throwing projectiles.
The sentences varied among the supporters, with nine individuals receiving one-year terms alongside a fine of MAD 5,000 (approximately $500). Six others were sentenced to six months in prison with fines of MAD 2,000 (around $200), while three supporters were given three-month sentences and a fine of MAD 1,000 (about $100). Notably, a French national of Algerian descent was also sentenced to three months for throwing a water bottle. Those serving shorter sentences may be eligible for release soon, while others remain incarcerated.
Despite the evidence presented, the supporters have consistently denied their involvement in the violence, alleging that they were compelled onto the pitch either due to crowd pressure or as a means of escaping projectiles launched at them. Most of the defendants delivered their testimonies in Wolof, which were subsequently translated into French and Arabic. Defense lawyer Patrick Kabo contended that the prosecution failed to establish a direct link between the accused and the violent acts. "Mistakes were made, and those truly responsible are in Senegal, not here," he stated during the proceedings.
As reported by moroccoworldnews.com.
