Royal Pardon Marks a Gesture of Brotherhood
In a notable act of compassion, King Mohammed VI of Morocco announced on May 23, 2026, that he has granted a royal pardon to Senegalese supporters who were imprisoned following incidents of violence during the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) held in Rabat. This decision was made in light of "humanitarian considerations," reflecting the long-standing fraternal ties between Morocco and Senegal.
The royal decree comes after three of the imprisoned supporters had already served their three-month sentences. With this pardon, the remaining fifteen supporters, who have been incarcerated since mid-January, will soon be able to return to their homeland. The official statement from the royal cabinet highlighted the historical friendship and cooperation between the two nations, emphasizing the significance of this gesture coinciding with the celebration of Eid al-Adha.
Context of the Incident and Legal Proceedings
The events leading to the imprisonment occurred on January 18, during a tumultuous final match where Senegal triumphed 1-0 over Morocco. Tensions escalated when a penalty was awarded to Morocco in stoppage time, shortly after a goal by Senegal was disallowed. The situation resulted in Senegalese fans attempting to rush the field and hurling objects in protest as the match concluded. Subsequently, Moroccan authorities charged a total of eighteen supporters with various offenses, including violence against law enforcement and destruction of sporting equipment. These charges were contested by the defense, which argued against the accusations, as reported by our correspondent in Morocco, Mathias Rayal.
The Moroccan judiciary imposed sentences ranging from three months to one year during both the initial and appeals trials, focusing on video evidence from the stadium and medical reports of injured security personnel. The material damages were assessed at over €370,000. Despite the legal proceedings, the bond between Morocco and Senegal remains strong, as evidenced by the recent pardon.
While the release of the supporters is welcomed, tensions between the two countries are not entirely resolved. Following the decision by the African Football Confederation (CAF) to award the 2025 CAN title to Morocco, due to the disruption caused by the Senegalese team’s departure from the pitch during the match, Senegal has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The court has yet to announce a date for its ruling.
As reported by rfi.fr.
