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.
A Moroccan court in February sentenced the 18 Senegalese football fans to prison terms ranging from three to 12 months over charges of hooliganism.
Prosecutors sought stiffer penalties in the appeals court in Rabat, but the initial sentences were upheld on Monday.
The Senegalese maintained that they were either pushed onto the pitch by a surging crowd or moved there to avoid being spat at and hit by thrown objects.
They insisted their actions were not a protest against a refereeing decision at the end of the controversial AFCON final on January 18, which Senegal won 1-0.
The Confederation of African Football later overturned Senegal’s victory, awarding the title to Morocco two months after the final.
Following the decision, the Senegalese Football Federation immediately instructed its lawyers to file an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Defence lawyer Naima El Guellaf requested on Monday that video footage of the incident be played in court to help confirm the identities of the 18 Senegalese accused.
However, prosecutors opposed the request, insisting the accused were clearly identified during the incident.
“The entire world saw these terrible images live,” it argued.
The judge is yet to rule on the request to replay the video evidence.
“There have been mistakes, the people involved in what happened are currently in Senegal and are not present here,” a second defence lawyer, Patrick Kabou, told AFP.
