The CAN 2025 final continues to fuel intense debate. Following the controversial ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) appeal jury on March 17, which awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory by forfeit despite Senegal’s 1-0 on-field win, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has officially lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS).
Concurrently, another sensitive matter is unfolding: the case of 18 Senegalese supporters accused of hooliganism following disturbances during the January 18 final. Initially sentenced on February 19 to prison terms ranging from three months to one year, their appeal hearing took place this Monday in Rabat.
During the appeal proceedings, information suggested that defendants receiving three-month sentences could be released as early as next Saturday. The accused maintained their innocence before the court. Conversely, the prosecution, as reported by RMC, called for increased penalties, proposing up to two years of imprisonment. The charges against the supporters specifically include assaulting law enforcement officers, invading the playing field, and throwing projectiles.
Defense highlights critical errors
The defense presented an alternative account. Supporters stated they were forced onto the pitch due to a crowd surge or to avoid “spitting and thrown objects,” rather than to dispute an officiating decision. Patrick Kabou, one of their lawyers, argued to the AFP, “Mistakes were made; the individuals truly responsible for what occurred are located in Senegal and are not among those present here.”
The hearing was characterized by a procedural conflict. The defense requested the release of video footage from the incidents to definitively identify the defendants. However, the prosecution denied this request, asserting that the acts constituted a “flagrant délit” (caught in the act), stating, “The entire world witnessed these regrettable scenes live.”
