Morocco's King Mohammed VI has pardoned a group of Senegalese football supporters who were jailed following the chaotic, violence-marred Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Morocco in January. The pardon was granted 'on humanitarian grounds' on the occasion of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, the Moroccan royal court said on Saturday.

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye welcomed the jubilant supporters upon their arrival at the airport outside Dakar on Sunday. He thanked Moroccan authorities for the pardon but hailed the national team as 'two-time African champions', even though the January final is subject to an ongoing dispute before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.

Senegal won the tumultuous final against Morocco in Rabat on January 18, but the match was later awarded on appeal to the hosts. With the score 0-0, after a penalty awarded to Morocco and a Senegal goal disallowed, Senegalese fans tried to storm the pitch and hurled projectiles. The Senegalese team left the field in protest, halting play for nearly 20 minutes.

In February, Moroccan courts sentenced 18 Senegalese supporters to prison terms ranging from three months to one year for hooliganism. Three were released in mid-April; the royal pardon applied to the remaining 15.

The episode has strained relations between Morocco and Senegal, but the royal court cited 'age-old fraternal ties' between the two countries. President Faye thanked King Mohammed VI for the decision 'imbued with clemency and humanity'.

Charges were based on camera footage and medical certificates for injured police officers. Material damage was estimated at over 370,000 euros ($430,000). The Confederation of African Football (CAF) imposed disciplinary sanctions on both national federations.

Source: www.aljazeera.com