A Moroccan court on Thursday handed prison sentences ranging from three to 12 months to 18 Senegalese football supporters convicted on hooliganism-related charges following unrest during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
The supporters had remained in pre-trial detention since January 18, the day Morocco suffered a 1-0 defeat to Senegal on home soil in a tense final, after incidents that included attempts by some fans to invade the pitch and others throwing objects onto the field of play.
During proceedings, prosecutors sought the harshest penalties for certain defendants, arguing that they had “deliberately sought to disrupt the proper conduct of the match”.
According to the prosecution, the group “committed acts of violence broadcast live on television,” an assertion the accused have denied.
Authorities estimated that damage to the stadium infrastructure exceeded four million Moroccan dirhams (approximately $430,000). Prosecutors stated that their case relied on surveillance camera recordings from the stadium as well as medical reports detailing injuries sustained by members of the security forces and stadium stewards during the disturbance.
However, defence counsel Naima El Guellaf challenged the strength of the evidence presented. She argued before the court that the available video recordings did not “contain irrefutable proof showing that any one of them struck or assaulted anyone”.
CAF Sanctions and Legal Debate
In late January, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) imposed disciplinary measures on both the Senegalese and Moroccan football federations. The sanctions included fines amounting to several hundred thousand dollars over unsporting conduct and breaches of fair play during the tournament.
Guellaf contended that the defendants should not face double punishment, stating that they should not be “tried twice, since CAF has already sanctioned the Senegalese federation for the supporters’ behaviour”.
But Mustapha Simou, representing members of the security forces as the civil party in the case, rejected that argument. He maintained that CAF’s disciplinary measures did “not exempt the accused from criminal responsibility. On the contrary, they confirm their guilt”.
The ruling marks a significant legal outcome following one of the most heated AFCON finals in recent memory, as tensions on and off the pitch spilled into the stands and prompted both sporting and judicial consequences.
What you should know
Eighteen Senegalese football fans have been sentenced to prison terms of three to 12 months by a Moroccan court over hooliganism during the January 18 AFCON final, which Senegal won 1-0 against Morocco.
The prosecution relied on stadium surveillance footage and medical reports, while the defence argued the evidence was insufficient.
Earlier, CAF fined both federations for misconduct, but the court ruled that sporting sanctions do not shield individuals from criminal liability.
