Senegal FA slams “harsh and disproportionate” jail terms for 18 fans in Rabat

By Maxwell Kumoye 

 

 

The fallout from the explosive Africa Cup of Nations final has taken a dramatic turn, as the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) launches a blistering attack on a Moroccan court for jailing 18 Senegalese supporters after chaotic scenes in Rabat.

In a verdict delivered on February 19, a court in Rabat handed prison sentences ranging from three months to one year, along with fines, to fans arrested during the January 18 final, a match that saw Senegal edge hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time to lift the continental crown.

Nine supporters were sentenced to one year behind bars and fined MAD 5,000. Six received six months with fines of MAD 2,000, while three were handed three-month terms and fined MAD 1,000. 

The convictions stemmed from charges including violence against law enforcement, vandalism of sports facilities, pitch invasion and throwing projectiles during the heated encounter.

But the FSF is not backing down.

“We express our profound dismay and distress following the verdict,” said Bacary Cissé, head of the federation’s communications committee, in comments to Agence France-Presse. He labelled the punishment “harsh” and “disproportionate,” insisting the ruling has triggered outrage across Senegal’s football community.

The federation argues that stadium clashes, while condemnable, are not uncommon in global football and rarely attract such stiff penalties. 

“Clashes occur in numerous stadiums around the world, including every weekend in Morocco, without resulting in such sanctions,” Cissé contended.

The tension traces back to a final already dripping with controversy. Amid protests over a penalty awarded to the hosts, the Senegalese team temporarily halted play, igniting tempers in the stands. 

As emotions boiled over, some supporters attempted to storm the pitch and hurled objects onto the field, prompting swift security intervention and subsequent arrests.

Defence lawyer Patrick Kabou described the ruling as “incomprehensible,” arguing that his clients were made scapegoats in the aftermath of a chaotic and emotionally charged night. 

He suggested the legal process failed to fairly account for the wider context of the turmoil sparked by the referee’s contentious decision.

Now, what should have been remembered purely as a triumphant night for Senegalese football has morphed into a diplomatic flashpoint. 

The FSF says it is exploring appeals and diplomatic channels, determined to challenge what it views as a grave injustice against its citizens.

The AFCON trophy may be safely in Dakar, but the battle off the pitch is far from over.