Senegal supporters jailed in Morocco after tense court ruling

Eighteen Senegalese football supporters have been handed prison sentences in Morocco after a month in detention, following a tense court hearing that concluded with guilty verdicts and custodial terms ranging from three months to one year.

The decision was confirmed by the Senegalese Football Federation, which said the supporters were prosecuted for assault and judged at the Rabat High Court.

The ruling brings to a close weeks of uncertainty for the families and those following the case, after proceedings that the federation described as particularly charged.

In its statement, the federation said:
“ The verdict was handed down this Thursday for the eighteen Senegalese supporters prosecuted for assault and tried following the closing arguments of the various parties at the end of a particularly tense hearing at the Rabat High Court.

The judge followed the King’s prosecutor’s recommendations, finding the defendants guilty of the charges against them ,”

According to the federation, the civil party reiterated its request for a strict application of the law during the hearing.

The defence lawyer argued that the charges were unlawful and appealed for leniency, urging the court to consider mitigating circumstances before issuing its decision.

After nearly three hours of deliberation, the court returned with sentences described by relatives of the defendants as severe. The federation added:
“Sentences of three months, six months, and one year of imprisonment were pronounced, depending on the level of involvement determined for each defendant . ”

The announcement of the verdict triggered emotional scenes inside the courtroom, reflecting the strain surrounding the case. The federation said:
“The announcement of the verdict sparked strong emotions in the courtroom. The atmosphere quickly became tense, with the detainees struggling to contain their distress. One of them even suffered a fainting spell, requiring medical attention ,”

The ruling formally concludes the judicial phase of the case, leaving the convicted supporters to serve their respective sentences.

For families and observers, the outcome marks the end of a prolonged period of legal uncertainty that began with the supporters’ detention and continued through the high-profile proceedings.