BY Issah Olegor
An off-field controversy at the just ended 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has drawn widespread attention after an Algerian social media influencer was sentenced to prison in Morocco for misconduct at a match venue in Rabat.
The case has reignited debate about fan behaviour, public decency, and the legal responsibilities of spectators at major international sporting events.
Raouf Belkacemi, a well-known Algerian influencer, was on Monday sentenced by the Rabat First Instance Court to three months in prison and fined 500 Moroccan dirhams, equivalent to about 136 US dollars.
The court ruled after finding him guilty of violating public decency and public order following an incident at the Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium during AFCON 2025.
The incident occurred during Algeria’s Round of 16 encounter against the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to court records, Belkacemi filmed himself engaging in an indecent act within the stadium stands and later posted the footage on his social media platforms.
The video spread rapidly online, triggering public outrage across Morocco and beyond, and prompting swift intervention by local authorities.
Following the circulation of the footage, Moroccan security agencies arrested Belkacemi and placed him in custody.
He was later arraigned before the court, where prosecutors argued that his actions undermined public order and disrespected the rules governing conduct at public sporting venues.
The court agreed, handing down a custodial sentence while maintaining his legal right to appeal the ruling.
Belkacemi is currently being held at El Arjate prison, located approximately 20 kilometres south of Rabat.
In line with diplomatic protocols, he has received a consular visit from the Algerian Consul General in Morocco, Abdelhamid Abdaoui, as part of standard support for Algerian nationals detained abroad.
