Hooliganism at AFCON Final: 19 Fans Sentenced to Prison for Rioting

Fans Sentenced for Incidents at the Africa Cup of Nations Final

RABAT, Morocco – A Moroccan court sentenced 19 soccer fans, imposing prison terms of up to one year for acts of vandalism that occurred during the chaotic final of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) between Morocco and Senegal. After a hearing of more than five hours, the judge determined that the fans, 18 Senegalese and one French citizen, were guilty of several charges, including damage to sports facilities and violence during the event.

• Eleven people were sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of $550.
• Four were sentenced to six months and a fine of $218.
• The remaining four received a three-month sentence and a fine of $130.

An accused person fainted upon hearing the sentences, while others refused to stand up from the defendant’s bench. The relatives, visibly affected, insisted on the innocence of their family members. The lawyers announced their intention to appeal the decision, considering it severe. The defendants were arrested last month after outraged fans tried to invade the field to protest a late penalty awarded to Morocco, who hosted the event. Senegal eventually won the match 1-0. During the hearing, which was attended by Senegalese and French diplomats, as well as the defendants’ families, the lawyers argued that the court did not have sufficient grounds to convict their clients.

Security forces guard the field during the CAN final between Morocco and Senegal.The prosecutor requested the maximum penalties for the fans, arguing that they had interrupted the orderly development of the match. He added that the damages were estimated at more than $476,719. Morocco has long grappled with football-related vandalism episodes, and the courts of the North African country often deal with cases related to these incidents. However, this case was unusual as it involved only foreign citizens. The sentences mark the latest development of a final that led high-ranking officials from both countries to urge peace and fraternity amid tensions on social media and an increase in what Moroccan rights groups described as “hate speech”.

Last month, CAF, the governing body of African football, issued fines and sanctions of one million dollars against Senegal and Morocco for the tumultuous match. Morocco announced that it plans to appeal the decision, considering the sanctions disproportionate to the incidents.

The match was marred by the Senegalese players’ walk-off in protest at a penalty awarded to Morocco in stoppage time. Outraged Senegalese supporters threw chairs onto the pitch and clashed with security guards before the police arrived. The match and its outcome led high-ranking officials from both countries to reinforce diplomatic and economic ties, which they described as “strong and historic,” seeking to prevent the game from straining bilateral relations.