Why Senegal fans were jailed after the AFCON final — Moroccan law explained | OneFootball

Courts say sentences match previous cases

Why Senegal fans were jailed after the AFCON final — Moroccan law explained

Moroccan courts say jail sentences for Senegal fans after the AFCON 2025 final follow normal legal standards.

Legal review explains the verdicts

Moroccan media have published legal explanation of the recent court rulings against 18 Senegalese supporters and one fan with French and Algerian nationality following incidents linked to the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final.

According to Moroccan newspaper Yabiladi, the prison sentences ranging from three month to one year are in line with Morocco’s usual legal approach to stadium violence and do not represent exceptional punishment.

The report came after strong reactions on social media in Senegal where some users described the rulings as harsh.

The newspaper argued that these reactions overlook how strictly Moroccan courts deal with disorder linked to sporting events.

Same law for local and foreign fans

The newspaper explained that the incidents around the AFCON final including damage to property and public disorder were treated under the same criminal standards applied to Moroccan supporters.

The courts, it said, made no distinction between foreign and local fans. The legal classification of the acts followed established procedures used in similar cases inside the country.

Past cases show even harsher sentences

To support its point, Yabiladi recalled several past rulings involving Moroccan supporters. In 2013 clashes in Casablanca after match between Raja & FAR Rabat led to prison sentences of up to three year.

Another case in Rabat in 2022 saw eight Moroccan fan jailed for one year following violent scenes during match between FAR Rabat and Maghreb of Fez.

These examples were used to show that the recent rulings fit a long-standing legal pattern.

Law aimed at fighting stadium violence

The legal review said Moroccan courts rely on Law 09-09 which focuses on preventing violence at sporting events and protecting public safety.

According to the report, Moroccan justice applies the law equally, regardless of nationality when cases involve incitement to violence or damage to public property.

This approach, the paper said, explains why the sentences handed down after AFCON 2025 are consistent with past decisions.