Morocco's King pardons Senegalese fans jailed after AFCON final violence
En resumen
Morocco's King Mohammed VI has pardoned 18 Senegalese football supporters jailed for violence at the 2025 AFCON final in Rabat, citing "humanitarian reasons" and "fraternal ties" between the nations on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.
Resumen generado por IA
Por qué importa
18 Senegalese football supporters were jailed after violence erupted during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat. The violence followed a controversial penalty decision awarded to Morocco in injury time.
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has pardoned the Senegalese football supporters jailed after violence at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Rabat for “humanitarian reasons”, a royal court statement has confirmed.
It said that in view “of the age-old fraternal ties” between the two countries “and on the occasion of the advent of Eid al-Adha”, the king has “granted, on humanitarian grounds, his royal pardon to the Senegalese supporters”.
The Muslim holiday will be celebrated on Wednesday in Morocco.
The 18 fans were jailed following a pitch invasion that followed the awarding of a penalty to Morocco in injury time of the final on January 18.
The game was stopped for 14 minutes while the Senegal players and staff left the field in protest at the decision. When play resumed, Morocco missed the penalty before Senegal sealed a 1-0 win in injury time.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF), the continent’s governing body for football, overturned the decision on March 17, awarding the game as a 3-0 win to Morocco which saw the North Africans crowned champions.
CAF upheld the appeal by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, saying Senegal had infringed tournament regulations by walking off.
Preguntas abiertas
- What were the specific actions that led to the jailing of the 18 fans?
- Will there be any further repercussions for the individuals involved or the football federations?
- What is the current status of the relationship between the Senegalese supporters and Moroccan authorities?
