FIFA and CAF condemn Senegal’s conduct in AFCON final
FIFA and the Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) have issued strong condemnations of Senegal’s conduct during their Africa Cup of Nations final triumph against Morocco on Sunday evening, reports BritPanorama.
The governing bodies branded the behaviour of players and staff as “unacceptable” following extraordinary scenes at Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat. FIFA President Gianni Infantino delivered a stern rebuke of both the pitch walkout and supporter disorder. “We also witnessed unacceptable scenes on the field and in the stands; we strongly condemn the behaviour of some supporters as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff members,” he stated.
Infantino emphasised that abandoning the field of play in such fashion cannot be tolerated, adding that violence has no place in the sport. “We must always respect the decisions taken by the match officials on and off the field of play,” he declared.
The drama unfolded when Crystal Palace forward Ismaïla Sarr appeared to have given Senegal the lead in the 92nd minute, only for referee Jean-Jacques Ndala to rule the effort out. The official had already blown his whistle, believing Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi had been fouled by Abdoulaye Seck before Sarr made contact with the ball. Tensions escalated further when the hosts were awarded a spot kick moments later following a disputed challenge on Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz during a corner. Head coach Pape Thiaw, incensed by the sequence of decisions, instructed his squad to leave the field in protest. Every player complied with the order except former Liverpool star Sadio Mane, who remained on the pitch.
The match was halted for approximately 17 minutes as Mane persuaded his colleagues to return and complete the contest. Senegalese supporters clashed with police and hurled chairs whilst attempting to storm the playing surface during the stoppage. CAF confirmed in a statement that all footage from the final is being examined and will be referred to the appropriate bodies for disciplinary proceedings. “CAF strongly condemns any inappropriate behaviour which occurs during matches, especially those targeting the refereeing team or match organizers,” the continental governing body declared.
The organisation’s regulations stipulate that any team which “refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee” shall be considered the loser. Speculation has emerged that Senegal could theoretically be stripped of their title under these rules, with the trophy potentially being awarded to Morocco instead. However, given that the Lions of Teranga ultimately completed the fixture, such a severe sanction appears improbable. FIFA has previously imposed financial penalties and reduced stadium capacities on federations following supporter misconduct during matches.
When play eventually resumed, Diaz attempted a Panenka-style penalty, but former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved it comfortably. Papa Gueye subsequently struck the decisive goal in extra time to secure Senegal’s second continental crown. Thiaw later expressed remorse for his actions during an interview with beIN Sports. “After reflecting, I really did not like the fact that I told my players to leave the pitch. I apologise to football. I brought them back,” he said.
Morocco manager Walid Regragui offered a damning assessment of the evening’s events. “The image we gave of African football was rather shameful,” he remarked. “Having to stop the game for more than 10 minutes with the world watching is not very classy.” Mane reflected on the importance of completing the match, stating, “Football is something special, the world was watching, so we have to give a good image for football.”
In the world of football, where emotions run high and the stakes are often higher, this incident stands as a stark reminder of the thin line between passion and chaos.
