Tottenham star Pape Matar Sarr has demanded the release of the 18 Senegal fans who have been detained in Morocco since the Africa Cup of Nations final last month. Senegal fans clashed with riot police as the match paused for a staggering 17 minutes following a controversial penalty that was given to Morocco, which they later missed. Sarr missed the final due to illness but his Senegal team-mates won 1-0 against tournament hosts Morocco to be crowned AFCON champions for only the second time in their history. Tuesday marked 31 days since the AFCON final, and taking to X, Sarr called for his compatriots to be released from their imprisonment – labelling their current situation an ‘injustice’.
‘Thirty days of detention for supporters whose only crime was to support their team with passion,’ his post began. ‘We strongly denounce this injustice and demand their release. Total support for our compatriots.’
Sarr’s words come two days before the 18 fans are set to appear in court again on Thursday. Last month, the Morocco and Senegal FAs were fined almost 1m between them following the AFCON final chaos. In total, the two FAs were fined a combined 914,000 by the continent’s governing body Confederation of African Football (CAF). Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has been suspended for five matches and fined 72,000 for ‘unsporting conduct’ when he instructed his players to leave the pitch after the controversial extra-time penalty was given to Morocco following the referee’s decision not to award a spot kick to his side minutes earlier. Senegal’s FA were also fined 445,000 for their side’s conduct and the behaviour of some of their fans after violence broke out between them and security at the stadium.The post Tottenham star Pape Matar Sarr demands release of detained Senegal supporters one month on from AFCON final in Morocco appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.
