Moroccan Court Sentences 19 Football Fans to Prison for Hooliganism After AFCON Final

The Moroccan judiciary has issued harsh sentences against a group of fans involved in incidents during the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). On Thursday, after a trial lasting over five hours, 19 people heard guilty verdicts for hooliganism. The convicted are mostly citizens of Senegal (18 people), accompanied by one citizen of France. The sentences range from three months to one year of unconditional imprisonment. The judge found the accused guilty of numerous offenses against public order, including an attempt to storm the pitch en masse during the chaotic conclusion of the tournament. Morocco and Senegal are traditional rivals in African football, and their matches have for decades stirred immense social emotions, extending beyond the sporting aspect itself.The court's decision has been interpreted as a signal of the authorities' determination to combat aggression in stadiums. Although the prosecution demanded harsher penalties, the judge opted for a sentencing that considered the individual degree of guilt of each perpetrator. The incidents occurred in mid-January during the final match, which attracted thousands of fans from across the continent. Hooliganism in stadiums has become a serious problem for Moroccan law enforcement in recent years, resulting in a toughening of criminal policy towards riot perpetrators. 12 months — is the maximum sentence imposed by the Moroccan courtThe convicted individuals had been in custody since the end of the tournament. Their defense lawyers emphasized the emotional nature of the events, but evidence in the form of video recordings and police officer testimonies tipped the scales in favor of the prosecution. International sports media note that such decisive legal steps could influence the organization of future mass events in the Maghreb region. The Polish public may associate similar situations with the harsh treatment of foreign fans in countries with high public security rigor. Stadiums in North Africa have often been arenas for social unrest, which led to the introduction of rigorous security regulations in Morocco and Tunisia.Nationality Structure and Sentences: 1. Senegalese Citizens — 18 people; 2. French Citizen — 1 person; 3. Maximum Sentence — 1 yearLiberal media may emphasize the potential severity of the sentences against foreigners and the conditions of their detention in investigative custody. | Conservative media will focus on the necessity of maintaining public order and severely punishing hooligans attacking law enforcement.