A Moroccan court has sentenced 19 football supporters to prison terms of up to one year for hooliganism linked to the Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal that descended into chaos when fans attempted to storm the pitch.
Following a hearing lasting more than five hours on Thursday, the presiding judge found the group comprising 18 Senegalese nationals and one French citizen, guilty of multiple offences, including damaging sporting facilities and committing violence during a sporting event.
According to lawyer Naima El Guellaf, eleven defendants received one-year prison sentences alongside fines of 550 dollars each.
Four others were jailed for six months and fined 218 dollars, while the remaining four were handed three-month custodial terms and fined 130 dollars.
January 18, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco AFCON 2025 Finals match between Morocco and Senegal Photo by Samuel Ameyaw Yeboah
Courtroom scenes were tense as one defendant fainted upon hearing the verdict, while several others refused to stand when ordered to proceed to holding cells. Relatives present in court appeared distressed and maintained their family members were innocent.
Defence lawyers said they intend to appeal what they described as harsh sentences.
The defendants were detained last month after supporters angered by a late penalty decision in favour of hosts Morocco attempted to enter the field during the final, which Senegal went on to win 1-0. The accused remained in custody for more than a month before judgment was delivered.
Photo Credit: Imago
During the hearing, attended by Senegalese and French diplomats as well as family members, defence attorneys argued that prosecutors had insufficient evidence to secure convictions.
However, the public prosecutor requested maximum penalties, stating the group had disrupted the orderly conduct of the match and caused damage estimated at more than 476,000 dollars.
The case represents the latest consequence of a final overshadowed by controversy and unrest. Senegalese players had earlier walked off the pitch in protest over the stoppage-time penalty decision, while supporters threw chairs onto the field and clashed with stewards before police intervened.
Photo Credit: Imago
Moroccan authorities have long dealt with football-related hooliganism cases, though this incident stood out because all defendants were foreign nationals.
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The match also prompted appeals for calm from senior officials in both countries amid social media tensions and what Moroccan rights groups described as a surge in hate speech.
Diplomatic leaders stressed that bilateral relations remained strong despite the dispute.
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Last month, the Confederation of African Football imposed fines totalling one million dollars and disciplinary sanctions on both national teams over the disturbances, with Morocco indicating plans to challenge the penalties.
