Rabat Court Confirms Sentences for Senegalese Fans
On April 14, 2026, the Rabat Court of Appeal made a decisive ruling regarding the violent incidents that occurred during the African Cup of Nations final held in Morocco in 2025. After a lengthy session that extended late into the night, the court upheld the initial sentences given to several supporters who were implicated in the disturbances that erupted during the match between Morocco and Senegal. This verdict follows a comprehensive hearing that included multiple interruptions, notably one caused by a Senegalese supporter who experienced a medical emergency and was briefly taken to the infirmary.
The courtroom discussions were intense, featuring extensive arguments from the defense attorneys representing the eighteen Senegalese supporters involved in the case, along with a French national of Algerian descent who was also charged. The defense sought the summoning of the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the body responsible for organizing the tournament, as well as the presentation of video evidence that had been utilized by the judicial police. However, these requests were denied by the prosecution, which argued that the incidents in question were well-documented and publicly witnessed, asserting that such actions would not introduce any new evidence to the case.
By affirming the previous penalties, the Court of Appeal confirmed sentences ranging from three months to one year of imprisonment, in addition to fines. Notably, some of the convicted individuals, including three Senegalese supporters and one French supporter, are set to complete their sentences by April 18, while others continue to serve their respective terms.
It is important to note that the initial court had rendered varying sentences based on the severity of each individual’s involvement, issuing three months of incarceration for some, six months for others, and up to one year for the most serious offenses, with mitigating circumstances considered for certain defendants. The charges against them included storming the pitch, engaging in violent acts, assaulting law enforcement officers, vandalizing sports equipment, and throwing projectiles, which ranged from seats to metal objects.
As reported by fr.hespress.com.
