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Eighteen Senegalese football fans have been sentenced to prison terms by a Moroccan court, ranging from three to 12 months, for their involvement in disturbances during last month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
The court’s decision comes after the group had been in pre-trial detention since January 18, the day of the tense final, which Senegal won 1-0 on Moroccan soil.
The Moroccan prosecution initially sought a maximum two-year penalty for some of the defendants, accusing them of attempting to disrupt the match’s conduct.
“They deliberately sought to disrupt the proper conduct of the match,” the prosecution argued, referring to acts of violence witnessed live on television during the match. The group denied any wrongdoing, claiming they were victims of unfounded accusations.
The sentences varied: nine supporters received one year in prison and a 5,000 dirham ($545) fine; six received six months in prison and a 2,000 dirham fine; and three received three months in prison and a 1,000 dirham fine. Despite the verdict, defence lawyers said they would appeal. Lawyer Patrick Kabou described the ruling as “incomprehensible” and maintained that his clients were victims, not perpetrators.
The disturbances during the match, including an attempted pitch invasion and protests by Senegal’s players against a late penalty awarded to Morocco, prompted security forces to intervene. Fans were also seen throwing objects onto the pitch, including a chair. The prosecution presented footage from stadium surveillance cameras, along with medical reports documenting injuries sustained by security personnel and stadium stewards.
Defence lawyer Naima El Guellaf disputed the evidence, claiming it lacked irrefutable proof that any of the accused had directly assaulted anyone. Furthermore, Guellaf questioned the fairness of prosecuting the fans again, given that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had already sanctioned both the Senegalese and Moroccan federations for unsporting behaviour following the match.
However, the prosecution maintained that CAF’s sanctions did not absolve the accused of criminal liability, saying that the material damage to the stadium was estimated at more than 4 million dirhams ($430,000).
As Morocco prepares to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal, the case highlights ongoing concerns over fan behaviour and stadium security during high-stakes international competitions.
