Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has condemned Morocco’s sentencing of 18 Senegalese football fans following disturbances at the Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat. The supporters were arrested after attempting to enter the pitch during the match on January 19, which was suspended after Senegal players protested a late penalty awarded to Morocco.
The 18 fans were sentenced last Thursday to between three months and one year in prison and fined up to 5,000 dirhams, around $545. They have denied wrongdoing but have not filed appeals.
Sonko told parliament that Senegal will seek a royal pardon from King Mohammed VI. He added that agreements exist allowing the supporters to serve their sentences in Senegal if the pardon is not granted.
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The Senegal Football Association described the verdict as disproportionate, noting that similar incidents in stadiums worldwide, including in Morocco, rarely lead to such severe penalties. Security personnel said some of the fans went on hunger strike during detention.
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