Moroccan Court Sentences Officials in World Cup Ticket Resale Scandal

Mohamed El Hidaoui was sentenced to a one-and-a-half-year prison term and a 2,000 dirham fine, while Adil El Omari was sentenced to ten months in prison and a fine. The defense had requested the provisional release of the sports leader, and the postponement of the hearing had been granted to prepare the case.

The investigation, conducted by the National Brigade of the Judicial Police, had been initiated to elucidate the circumstances and facts surrounding the resale of tickets originally intended to be distributed free of charge to Moroccan fans. The traceability of their acquisition and distribution, as well as the search for the sources of their possession and sale on the black market, had revealed the involvement of the suspects in the illegal acquisition and fraudulent resale of these tickets.

The court’s decision follows the prosecutor’s opinion of July 26 to keep the sports leader in detention and the journalist at liberty until their appearance. The suspects had been referred to the public prosecutor’s office of the Court of Appeal of Casablanca, following the results of the investigation.