Khaberni - Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko expressed his regret on Tuesday over the prison sentence issued by a Moroccan court against 18 Senegalese fans convicted of invading the pitch during the African Nations Cup football final.
The fans were detained in Morocco after the final of the continental competition on January 18, which saw the Senegalese national team crowned 1-0 after extension against the hosts, and they were charged with violence against security forces and causing material damage.
Nine of them were sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of 5000 dirhams (about 460 euros), six others to six months and a fine of 2000 dirhams (180 euros), while the remaining three were sentenced to three months in prison and a fine of 1000 dirhams (90 euros).
Sonko said during a parliamentary questioning session: It seems that this matter has exceeded the limits of sports, which is unfortunate.
He added: For two countries that call each other friends, like Morocco and Senegal, things should not have come to this point.
He stated that Morocco's handling of the case "does not honor" the relations between the two countries, noting that Senegal has done everything necessary to ensure the fans' release.
Sonko explained that Senegal, if necessary, could activate a bilateral agreement allowing for the mutual transfer of prisoners between the two countries.
The final match witnessed significant tension, as the awarding of a penalty to the Moroccan team at the end of regular time, after resorting directly to video assistant referee technology following the cancellation of a goal for Senegal, led to several players of "The Lions of Teranga" leaving the field before returning at the request of their star Sadio Mane.
