Eight Morocco football fans jailed after riot

A Moroccan court on Tuesday sentenced 8 football fans to prison for their involvement in a rebel last month that injured more than a hundred and fifty humans, a lawyer stated.

They received sentences starting from four months to a year for offenses consisting of participation in violent acts and in opposition to public property, protection attorney Mohamed Almou instructed AFP.

The defense intends to appeal.

The court in Rabat found two others innocent, Almou added.

The 10 were among 70, including 18 minors, detained after the violence at the end of the March 13 match between AS FAR, the Rabat-based Moroccan Armed Forces club, and away side Maghreb de Fez (MAS).

When the hosts lost 2-0 their ultras invaded the pitch to take on rival supporters, according to local media.

Officers were bombarded with projectiles in violence that injured 103 policemen and 57 supporters, the DGSN security service said at the time.

The stadium was also damaged.

Among 60 other accused still in custody are some facing serious charges including “establishing a criminal gang”, “sabotage of equipment by force” and attempted rape.

Morocco’s football federation fined both clubs and issued bans on their supporters. AS FAR fans are banned from all its matches until the season ends, while MAS supporters received two-game prohibitions.

Moroccan football supporters have taken part in several similar brawls in past years, including between fans of the country’s two top Casablanca clubs, Wydad and Raja.

After the deaths of two supporters in early 2016, the authorities disbanded companies of ultras and banned slogans and banners on the terraces.

Ultras were authorized to return to the grounds in March 2018.