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Legal representatives of Senegalese and French football fans who were found guilty of disturbances during the Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco have asked for their clients to be temporarily released while their appeal is being considered.

The application was forwarded to the court’s appellate division inRabat, which on Monday delayed the review of the case until March 30.

The accused had been previously found guilty by the main court in Rabat on February 19 concerning incidents related to the final of theAfrica Cup of Nations between Morocco national football team and Senegal national football team at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

The lower court handed down four-month prison terms and a fine of 1,200 dirhams ($120) to four supporters. Six others were given six-month jail sentences along with fines of 2,000 dirhams, while nine more defendants received one-year prison sentences and penalties of 5,000 dirhams.

They faced legal action for offenses such as creating disruptions during the game, attacking staff members and volunteer officials, entering the pitch, and damaging stadium facilities.

At the initial appeal court session, the defense attorneys reissued a call for provisional release, highlighting worries regarding the handling of the first trial and asserting that the accusations and penalties were not commensurate with the presented evidence.

According to Jawad Bennisi, who is a French supporter of Algerian descent, the case involves fans who were detained since January 18 after incidents during the final match of the tournament.

Bennisi mentioned that his client was cleared of multiple charges during the initial trial, such as damage to property, aggression, and recording without permission, and was finally found guilty only for tossing a plastic water bottle, which led to a three-month jail term.

“The offense does not warrant ongoing detention, and a fine might have been adequate,” Bennisi stated. He mentioned that the defense had provided assurances to the court, such as surrendering the client’s passport and placing him under judicial oversight until a final decision is made.

The Moroccan Organization for Human Rightspreviously mentioned that the trial followed constitutional and international principles of a fair trial, highlighting that the judicial panel operated independently and provided equal treatment to both the defense and the prosecution.

The appellate court is set to examine the application for provisional release and proceed with the case during its upcoming hearing on March 30.