Justice acts after the chaos in the final
A Moroccan court has just handed down a ruling. Nineteen fans, eighteen Senegalese and one French, face sentences of up to one year in prison for the acts of vandalism that marred the final of the African Cup of Nations between Morocco and Senegal.
The hearing was intense, lasting more than five hours. Judges found them guilty of charges such as damaging sports facilities and committing violent acts during an event. Eleven people received the maximum sentence: one year and a considerable fine.
“Eleven people were sentenced to one year in prison and received a fine of $550,” lawyer Naima El Guellaf confirmed to The Associated Press.
The scene in the room was dramatic. One defendant fainted upon hearing the verdict. Others refused to get up from the dock when ordered to the cells. Relatives, visible and shocked, insisted on their innocence.
An excessive reaction that stained the game
It all started last month, in that decisive match. Outraged supporters attempted to invade the pitch to protest a late penalty awarded to hosts Morocco. Senegal ended up winning 1-0, but the victory was overshadowed.
The accused had been detained for more than a month awaiting this ruling. His lawyers have already announced that they will appeal, considering the sentences too harsh.
During the trial, with Senegalese and French diplomats present, the defense argued that there were insufficient grounds to convict. The prosecutor did not give in: he asked for maximum sentences, alleging that they altered the development of the game and caused damage valued at almost half a million dollars.
This is common in Morocco, where courts often deal with football-related cases. The unusual thing here was that it only involved foreigners.
The convictions are only part of the problem derived from that turbulent final. The CAF has already imposed million-dollar fines on both federations for the incidents. And most importantly: senior officials from both countries had to go out to reinforce their “strong and historic” ties to prevent a party from damaging much more valuable relations.
In the end, sport teaches us hard lessons. Passion cannot turn into destruction. Defeat hurts, yes, but there are decent ways to manage it. And victory tastes better when it is celebrated with respect.
