Daijiworld Media Network - Rabat
Rabat, Jan 20: FIFA president Gianni Infantino has strongly condemned Senegal’s decision to walk off the pitch in protest against referee decisions during the Africa Cup of Nations final against host Morocco, calling the scenes “unacceptable” despite Senegal eventually going on to win the title.
Reacting after attending the dramatic final in Rabat, Infantino criticised Senegal’s coaches, players and some fans for their conduct at the end of regulation time, describing it as astonishing for an international tournament final. In a post on Instagram, he said the ugly scenes witnessed during the match must be condemned and should never be repeated.
Infantino added that he expects the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to take appropriate disciplinary action. CAF, in a separate statement, also termed the incidents unacceptable and confirmed that it is reviewing all available footage and will refer the matter to competent bodies for action against those found guilty.
The controversy erupted late in stoppage time when a Senegal goal in a 0-0 match was ruled out for a foul, sparking anger among players and fans. Minutes later, Morocco were awarded a penalty following a video review that judged Senegal defender had pulled down star forward Brahim Diaz during a corner. The decision further inflamed Senegal’s protests, with head coach Pape Thiaw leading his players off the field, forcing a 15-minute halt to the game.
The Moroccan Football Federation, reacting to the dramatic loss in their home tournament just four years before co-hosting the 2030 World Cup, announced it would pursue legal action with CAF and FIFA over the walkout and its impact on the match. The federation said the incident significantly disrupted the normal flow of the game and affected player performance.
When play eventually resumed in an extraordinary 24th minute of stoppage time, Diaz missed the penalty with a weak Panenka that was easily saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. The match then went into extra time, where Senegal sealed a 1-0 victory through a powerful strike by Pape Gueye.
Infantino stressed that leaving the field of play and any form of violence cannot be tolerated in football, urging teams to respect match officials and compete within the Laws of the Game. Morocco coach Walid Regragui later described the incident as a shameful image of African football.
Questions remain over whether any potential sanctions against Senegal coach Thiaw could extend beyond African competitions to the FIFA World Cup, where Senegal is set to begin its campaign in June.