Ousmane Sonko laments jail terms for 18 Senegal fans in Morocco | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, Ousmane Sonko, Senegal’s prime minister, has regretted the prison sentences handed in Morocco to 18 Senegalese supporters, saying the affair appears to extend beyond sport and that securing their release remains very uncertain.

The fans have been held since the Africa Cup of Nations final on 18 January in Rabat, which the Lions of Teranga won 1-0 after extra time.

A Rabat court issued the terms on Thursday, ranging from three months to one year. They were prosecuted for hooliganism, a charge covering acts of violence including against police, damage to sporting equipment, a pitch invasion and the throwing of projectiles.

Sonko argued that relations between Morocco and Senegal should not have reached this point and criticised the handling of the case. He said Senegal had done everything it should to obtain their release, without giving details.

On Friday, several Senegal players and the national federation voiced support on social media for those jailed, notably Tottenham midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, who called the situation an injustice and said the fans had only sought to back their team with passion.

Asked about the prospect of a royal pardon by King Mohammed VI, Sonko did not commit. He noted that Senegal could instead trigger a bilateral accord with Morocco allowing the mutual transfer of convicted prisoners.

Source: L'Équipe