DR ‹ › The 18 Senegalese fans sentenced for hooliganism during the Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco will have to return to court after the public prosecutor and the civil parties appealed the initial ruling. The defendants are now scheduled to appear at a hearing in Rabat on March 16, according to France 24. On February 19, a Rabat court sentenced the 18 Senegalese supporters to prison terms ranging from three months to one year in a first-instance ruling. They were convicted on hooliganism-related charges, including acts of violence, particularly against law enforcement, vandalism of stadium facilities, throwing projectiles, and attempting to enter the pitch without authorization. The ruling drew criticism in Senegal, with Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko expressing regret before parliament and saying that the handling of the case «does not honor» the strong ties between Morocco and Senegal. The verdict was also criticized by the Senegalese Football Federation, which described the prison sentences as «incomprehensibly severe» and «disproportionate».
