Senegalese football fans jailed in Morocco return home after royal pardon

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - DAKAR — A group of 15 Senegalese football fans jailed following their country’s chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco in January returned home on Sunday after being pardoned by the Moroccan king.
King Mohammed VI granted the Senegalese fans a pardon “on humanitarian grounds” on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha, Morocco’s royal court said on Saturday.
"In view of the age-old fraternal ties” between the two countries “and on the occasion of the advent of Eid al-Adha”, which will be celebrated in the country on Wednesday, the king “granted, on humanitarian grounds, his royal pardon to the Senegalese supporters”, a royal court statement said.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye thanked King Mohammed VI for the decision “imbued with clemency and humanity”.
Faye welcomed the group as they arrived at Dakar's international airport early Sunday morning.
"We're very happy to have them back on Senegalese soil," said Faye, dressed in a Senegal jersey and tracksuit.
Thanking Moroccan authorities for the pardon, he pointedly hailed the Senegalese team as "two-time African champions" – even though the side has been stripped of the 2025 Cup of Nations title over the disruption to January's final, a decision Senegal has challenged.
Senegal won the tumultuous continental final against Morocco in Rabat on January 18, but the match was later awarded on appeal to the hosts.
With the match tied at 0-0, after a penalty awarded to Morocco in stoppage time of the second half just after a Senegal goal was disallowed, Senegalese fans tried to storm the pitch and hurled projectiles.
The Senegalese team left the pitch in protest against the penalty decision, halting play for nearly 20 minutes.
When they returned, they gleefully watched Morocco miss their penalty and went on to score a 94th-minute winner.
In February, Moroccan courts sentenced 18 Senegalese supporters held in Morocco since the final to prison terms ranging from three months to a year for hooliganism.
Three were released from jail in mid-April after completing their three-month sentences.
Following that release, another 15 Senegalese fans remained imprisoned after receiving sentences ranging from six months to one year.
According to the Moroccan public prosecutor’s office, the charges against the 18 football supporters were based mainly on footage from cameras at Rabat’s Moulay Abdellah Stadium, and on medical certificates for injured law enforcement officers and stewards.
Material damage from the violence was estimated at more than 370,000 euros (about $430,000).
At the end of January, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) imposed disciplinary sanctions on both national federations for unsporting conduct and violations of the principles of fair play.
After the CAF decided on March 17 to award the title to Morocco by administrative ruling, Senegal appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The two countries have a history of cooperation in sectors including tourism and energy, and share strong religious ties.
Senegalese make up the largest foreign community living in Morocco.