Moroccan King Mohammed VI pardoned on Saturday, for “humanitarian reasons,” Senegalese supporters who were imprisoned after the violence that occurred during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat.
“Given the longstanding fraternal relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Senegal, and on the occasion of the upcoming Eid al-Adha celebration, which will be observed on Wednesday in Morocco, the king has graciously granted, for humanitarian reasons, his royal pardon to the Senegalese supporters,” said a statement from the royal cabinet.
On January 18, during the Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat – which started in late December 2025 – Senegal won 1-0 in a chaotic match. Following a penalty awarded to Morocco in stoppage time of the second half, just after a goal was disallowed for Senegal, Senegalese supporters attempted to invade the pitch and threw objects onto the field.
In February, the Moroccan justice system sentenced the 18 Senegalese supporters detained in Morocco since the final to prison terms ranging from three months to one year. In mid-April, three Senegalese were released after serving their three-month sentence. The pardon granted on Saturday is expected to apply to the remaining 15 detainees.
“This decision reflects the depth of the profound bonds of friendship, fraternity, and cooperation between Morocco and Senegal,” the statement continued. Lawyer Patrick Kabou, who represented many of the Senegalese, told AFP that the detainees should be released from prison in the evening.
The charges were mainly based on footage from cameras at the Moulay-Abdellah stadium, as well as medical certificates of injured law enforcement officers and stadium staff, according to the prosecutor, who assessed the material damages at over 370,000 euros.
Following the African Confederation of Football’s decision to award the 2025 AFCON to Morocco on March 17, Senegal appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Original article published on RMC Sport.
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