Moroccan appeal court upholds jail terms for Senegal fans after AFCON final disorder
A Rabat appeals court has upheld jail terms for 18 Senegal supporters convicted over AFCON final disorder, prolonging a sensitive governance and event-security issue for CAF and future hosts.
A Moroccan appeals court in Rabat has rejected challenges from 18 Senegalese supporters convicted over crowd trouble linked to the Africa Cup of Nations final, maintaining prison sentences that range from three months to one year.The decision keeps the case in the spotlight as CAF and host federations try to reassure sponsors, broadcasters and fans that major finals can be delivered safely, with credible disciplinary and legal processes after incidents.The group were sentenced in February on hooliganism-related charges after disorder during the January 18 final in Rabat, with prosecutors pressing for tougher punishment during the appeal.Local reporting said nine defendants received one-year terms and fines, six were given six months, and three received three months, with a French national of Algerian descent also sentenced to three months.Defence lawyers argued the court should review additional material, including photos and videos, to test identification and individual responsibility.Defence lawyer Patrick Kabou said: “We have just heard the verdict. The Court upheld the lower court’s decision. We had submitted arguments regarding the validity of the proceedings, after transcribing part of the CAF conference and providing the court with material evidence, including photos and videos.“We asked the presiding judge to have this evidence presented. We were told that it had not yet been added to the case file, which is surprising.”Kabou also challenged the evidentiary threshold applied in court. Kabou said: “The evidence must be presented in court. However, no evidence has been presented to establish the guilt of the Senegalese supporters. We believe this is disrespectful to the court. Our compatriots must be judged based on material evidence.”Another defence lawyer sought to have video footage played in court, but the public prosecutor rejected the request, arguing the incident was clear and the case involved an offence witnessed at the time.The public prosecutor said: “The whole world saw these images live.”Several of the defendants denied wrongdoing, saying they entered the pitch because of crowd pressure or to escape “spitting and projectiles”, rather than to protest refereeing decisions.The appeals outcome lands within a wider CAF credibility debate after CAF overturned Senegal’s on-pitch title win and awarded the trophy to Morocco, a dispute now headed towards the Court of Arbitration for Sport.