Eighteen Senegalese football fans returned home to Dakar on Sunday after King Mohammed VI of Morocco granted them a royal pardon [1].
The release of the supporters resolves a diplomatic and legal tension following violence that occurred during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final. The incident highlighted the volatility of high-stakes sporting events and the role of royal intervention in settling international disputes.
The group arrived at Blaise Diagne International Airport on Sunday, May 24, at approximately 1 a.m. local time [2]. This homecoming followed the official announcement of the pardon on Saturday, May 23 [2]. The fans had been detained in Rabat after the AFCON final dispute led to legal proceedings in Morocco [2].
King Mohammed VI said the decision was based on compassion. "The king pardoned the Senegalese supporters for humanitarian reasons," the monarch said [3].
The pardon allows the 18 individuals to return to their families in Senegal after a period of detention [1]. The move comes as a gesture of goodwill between the two nations following the unrest associated with the tournament's concluding match.
Local reports from Dakar described a sense of relief among the returning supporters and their families. The royal decree effectively cleared the legal hurdles that had kept the fans in Moroccan custody since the conclusion of the 2025 tournament [2].
“"The king pardoned the Senegalese supporters for humanitarian reasons."”
The use of a royal pardon to resolve the detention of foreign sports fans suggests a preference for diplomatic stability over strict judicial retribution. By framing the release as a humanitarian gesture, Morocco manages to maintain its legal stance on the violence while avoiding a prolonged diplomatic rift with Senegal.
