Incidents of the final: Moroccan justice delivers its judgment in Rabat

Moroccan justice has delivered its verdict in the case of Senegalese supporters arrested after the CAN 2025 final. The trial was held at the Rabat court of first instance, in an atmosphere described as tense by several sources close to the case.

The defendants, prosecuted for acts classified as hooliganism, were found guilty of acts of violence, damage and attacks on the physical integrity of others.

As we indicated in a publication on the social network Facebook, the judicial authorities retained several elements constituting the offenses:

The King's Prosecutor had requested firm penalties, considering that the alleged acts undermined the security of a large-scale event and had endangered personnel mobilized for the staging of the final.

The court rendered a decision in line with the public prosecutor's requisitions. The sentences handed down range from short-term prison sentences to heavier sentences for the defendants considered to be the most involved. Fines were also imposed to cover part of the material damage.

This gradation reflects the desire of Moroccan justice to distinguish individual responsibilities, taking into account the facts, video evidence and testimonies collected.

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) reacted in a press release, highlighting the difficult nature of the trial and the tension felt during the hearing. She also took note of the judgment while recalling her ongoing monitoring of the situation since the arrests.

According to the FSF, the defendants, including members of the 12è Gaindé group, had been legally supported and monitored by its representatives on site, for the sake of consular protection and administrative assistance.

With this verdict, the court puts an end to a case which had attracted significant attention in Senegal, Morocco and in the international media. The convictions are enforceable, meaning that the sentences must be served in accordance with the decision rendered.

This judgment illustrates the line adopted by Moroccan justice: to firmly deal with violent outbursts, particularly when they occur within the framework of international sporting events where security is an absolute priority.