Morocco's King Mohammed VI has pardoned 18 Senegal supporters who were convicted of hooliganism following one of the most chaotic AFCON finals in recent memory — a match whose result is still being fought over in court.
The fans were sentenced in April to between three and six months for charges including violence against security forces, throwing objects, damaging stadium infrastructure, and attempting to invade the pitch. Some had already served their time before the pardon was issued. The royal palace framed the decision around "human considerations" ahead of Eid Al Adha and the "long-standing fraternal relation" between the two countries.
What actually happened that night
The chaos in Rabat stemmed from a VAR-awarded penalty to Morocco in the final. Senegal's players walked off the pitch in protest. They came back after 14 minutes. Morocco missed the penalty. Senegal won 1-0.
Then the real argument started. Two months later, CAF upheld Morocco's appeal and declared them AFCON champions, stripping Senegal of the title. Senegal have taken that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport — sport's highest authority — where it now sits.
So while the fans are free, the actual result of the final is still legally unresolved. The pardon is a diplomatic gesture, but it doesn't touch the sporting dispute.
The bigger picture
Morocco and Senegal are genuinely close allies on the continent, and this move cements that diplomatic warmth even as their football federations fight it out through official channels. The King's pardon prevents a lingering legal footnote from souring a relationship that matters well beyond sport.
What happens at CAS will define how this chapter ends. If Senegal's appeal succeeds, the 1-0 win they played for — and that their fans went to prison over — will be restored. If it doesn't, Morocco keep a title won in a boardroom rather than on a pitch. Either way, the AFCON 2025 betting market has a genuinely unpredictable backdrop for both nations heading into qualification and beyond.
Senegal's appeal to CAS is ongoing. No ruling date has been set.
