A court in Morocco has handed an Algerian football supporter a heavy prison sentence after he tore up Moroccan banknotes in a stadium incident that sparked outrage.
The case dates back to a match in which the supporter was filmed tearing the money and throwing the pieces away. The images spread quickly on social media and led to an official investigation.
Moroccan authorities treated the act as a serious offence, and the supporter was later arrested. Prosecutors argued that the incident went beyond provocation between fans and amounted to an insult to the national currency.
The court ultimately convicted the Algerian supporter and imposed a substantial jail term. The ruling confirms that tearing Moroccan money is criminally punishable, even when it happens in the heated atmosphere of a football stadium.
The verdict has drawn strong reactions among supporters on both sides, as officials repeated calls for calm and respect inside and outside stadiums.
