"Eighteen Senegalese football supporters convicted over a pitch invasion during the chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat in January have denied any wrongdoing. They argued that they had been forced onto the pitch because of a surging crowd or to avoid being spat upon and projectiles thrown towards them."
"The Senegalese Football Federation immediately instructed its lawyers to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Defence lawyer Naima El Guellaf asked on Monday that videos of the incidents be shown to verify the identities of the 18 Senegalese in court."
"The entire world saw these terrible images live, it argued. The judge is yet to respond to the request to replay videos of the incidents. There have been mistakes; the people involved in what happened are currently in Senegal and are not present here."
Eighteen Senegalese football fans were sentenced to prison for hooliganism during the Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco. They denied wrongdoing, claiming they were forced onto the pitch due to crowd pressure. The initial sentences were upheld despite prosecutors seeking harsher penalties. Senegal's Prime Minister criticized the ruling, and the Senegalese Football Federation plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Defence lawyers requested video evidence to verify identities, but the prosecution rejected this, asserting the fans were caught in the act. The judge has not yet responded to the request.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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