King Mohammed VI of Morocco granted a royal pardon on Saturday to 18 Senegalese football fans who were jailed for hooliganism [1].
The move resolves a diplomatic and humanitarian tension involving foreign nationals detained in Rabat following a high-profile sporting event. It signals a gesture of goodwill between the two nations after a period of legal detention.
The supporters were arrested in Rabat after the Africa Cup of Nations final took place in January 2025 [1]. The arrests followed chaotic scenes and disturbances associated with the match, leading to the incarceration of the group in Morocco [1], [2].
According to the royal court, the decision to grant the pardon was based on humanitarian reasons [1], [3]. The 18 individuals [1] had remained in custody since the events of the previous year, creating a lingering point of contention regarding the treatment of visiting sports fans.
The pardon allows the Senegalese nationals to leave the Moroccan prison system and return home. This action follows a pattern of royal clemency used by the Moroccan monarchy to address specific legal cases or diplomatic sensitivities, a practice often timed to coincide with national or humanitarian milestones.
Officials said they have not provided further details regarding the specific conditions of the release or the exact nature of the hooliganism charges beyond the general disturbances reported during the tournament final [1], [2].
“King Mohammed VI of Morocco granted a royal pardon on Saturday to 18 Senegalese football fans”
This royal pardon serves as a diplomatic tool to mend relations between Morocco and Senegal following the unrest of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. By citing humanitarian reasons, the Moroccan monarchy can resolve the legal status of the foreign detainees without undermining the judicial ruling on the original hooliganism charges.
