The legal fallout of the Sénégal-Maroc CAN 2025 final

The aftermath of the CAN 2025 final continues to be a source of significant tension. Following a contentious decision by the appeal jury of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on March 17, the Senegalese Federation (FSF) has escalated the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS). The controversy stems from the CAF awarding a 3-0 victory to Maroc by default, despite Sénégal having won the match 1-0 on the pitch.

Simultaneously, another sensitive case is unfolding concerning 18 Senegalese supporters prosecuted for hooliganism after incidents during the final on January 18. Initially convicted on February 19 and given sentences from three months to one year in prison, their case was heard again on appeal this Monday in Rabat.

According to details from the hearing, the defendants sentenced to three months could be eligible for release as early as this coming Saturday. They have consistently denied the charges against them in court. The prosecution, however, has argued for harsher penalties, requesting sentences of up to two years, according to a report from RMC. The supporters face charges including violence against law enforcement, invading the field, and throwing projectiles.

“Mistakes were made”

The defense presents a different account of the events. They argue that the supporters were compelled to go onto the field because of a crowd surge or to escape from “spitting and thrown projectiles,” rather than to protest a referee’s decision. “Mistakes were made; the individuals involved in what happened are in Sénégal and are not present here,” one of their lawyers, Patrick Kabou, argued to AFP.

A significant procedural battle defined the hearing. The defense team requested that video footage of the incidents be shown to formally identify the accused. This motion was rejected by the prosecution, which cited the principle of flagrant delicto, stating: “The entire world saw these distressing images live.”