Morocco has announced its intention to contest a decision that imposed fines totaling $415,000 and match suspensions, stemming from a disorderly Africa Cup of Nations final, as stated by their federation on Tuesday.
Last month, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the governing body of African football, penalized both Morocco as the host nation and Senegal due to disturbances that occurred during the final held in Morocco’s capital.
Senegal emerged victorious with a score of 1-0 after extra time but has chosen not to appeal the ruling.
The Moroccan football federation and national team player Ismael Saibari received fines amounting to $415,000, with Saibari and another teammate also facing match bans. An incident during the final involving ball boys attempting to take a towel from Senegal’s goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, allegedly to distract him, led to a $200,000 fine for the hosts.
The Moroccan federation views CAF’s penalties as excessive in relation to the events that transpired.
“In light of the mismatch between these sanctions and the seriousness of the incidents, the FRMF has decided to appeal these decisions,” read a statement from Morocco’s federation.
The final was overshadowed by Senegalese players protesting a stoppage-time penalty, leading to confrontations with fans who attempted to rush the field. Distressed supporters threw chairs and clashed with security personnel, resulting in eighteen individuals facing trial for hooliganism.
A total of $715,000 in fines were imposed on the Senegalese football federation and national team coach Pape Thiaw, alongside match suspensions for Thiaw and bans for two other players.
It’s important to note that the match suspensions only apply to African competitions, and do not affect the FIFA World Cup taking place in June, which both Senegal and Morocco have qualified for.
Following the tumultuous final, tensions escalated onto social media, prompting human rights organizations in Morocco to raise alarms about a rise in “hate speech towards individuals from sub-Saharan Africa.”
In an effort to address the situation, officials from both Morocco and Senegal have urged for calm and emphasized the importance of maintaining their countries’ economic and diplomatic relations.