FIFA President Gianni Infantino has issued a stern condemnation of the “unacceptable scenes” that occurred during Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final, where a walk-off protest by “some Senegal players” nearly derailed the match.
In a statement sent to AFP, Infantino expressed his disapproval of the actions taken by the Senegalese contingent and certain fans.
He stated: “We strongly condemn the behaviour of some ‘supporters’ as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff members. It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner.”
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He further emphasized that “violence cannot be tolerated in our sport, it is simply not right.”
The controversy erupted deep into injury time with the score at 0-0, after a VAR review resulted in a penalty for Morocco following a foul on Brahim Diaz.
While most of his teammates left the pitch in protest—having already been frustrated by a previously disallowed goal—former Liverpool star Sadio Mane remained on the field, urging his colleagues to return.
Simultaneously, chaos broke out in the stands as some fans attempted to storm the pitch, leading to clashes with security.
The match was delayed for nearly 20 minutes before Diaz finally took the penalty, which was saved by Edouard Mendy. Senegal eventually secured the 1-0 victory in extra time through a goal by Pape Gueye.
Infantino complimented Morocco for hosting “a fantastic tournament, both as runners-up and exceptional hosts,” but reminded all participants of their duties.
He noted: “We must always respect the decisions taken by the match officials on and off the field of play,” adding that anything less than total adherence to the rules “puts the very essence of football at risk.”
With the 2026 World Cup approaching, Infantino stressed that players must “act responsibly and set the right example for fans.”
He concluded by demanding accountability, stating: “The ugly scenes witnessed today must be condemned and never repeated. I reiterated that they have no place in football and I expect that the relevant disciplinary bodies at CAF will take the appropriate measures.”
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