When sporting passions collide with courts, politics and rights

This cluster tracks how football-related events in North and West Africa are spilling into courts and diplomatic arenas. It spans the rape trial of PSG and Morocco star Achraf Hakimi, harsh prison sentences for 18 Senegalese supporters in Morocco that many denounce as political and excessive, and an Algerian scandal over a 22-year-old jailed for wearing a Moroccan jersey. Added to this is a brewing controversy around Morocco’s role in the 2030 World Cup, highlighting how mega-sporting events, national rivalries and justice systems intersect, fueling boycotts, public outrage and geopolitical tension.