Fifa President comdemns actions of Senegal team
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has denounced the Senegal national team’s decision to temporarily leave the field during their AFCON 2025 final win, claiming their behaviour placed the spirit of the game in jeopardy, according to a report in the Irish Times on January 19th.
In a statement, the FIFA President condemned the actions of some Senegal fans, players and coaching staff, describing the scenes on and off the pitch as unjustifiable.
“It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner and, equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport; it is simply not right.”
“We must always respect the decisions taken by the match officials on and off the field of play. Teams must compete on the pitch and within the laws of the game, because anything less puts the very essence of football at risk.”
In a chaotic final tarnished by poor behaviour, the majority of the Senegal left the field of play in the dying minutes after the referee chalked off a late Senegalese goal and then awarded a controversial penalty decision in favour of Morocco only moments later.
The decisions sparked hostile reactions both on and off the pitch, underpinned by a prevailing sentiment amongst some involved in AFCON 2025 that Morocco had received favourable officiating throughout the tournament.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced it was analysing footage and punitive measures will follow.
In a statement, CAF said: “It is reviewing all footage and will refer the matter to competent bodies for appropriate action to be taken against those found guilty.”
After the game, world-famous Senegal player Sadio Mane said his side would have been “crazy” to leave the game unfinished as a protest.
Senegal head coach, Pape Thiaw, was seen gesturing for his players to leave the field after the penalty was awarded, with play continuing 16 minutes later after Mane, who had remained on the pitch, returned to the dressing room to encourage his team-mates to finish the game.
The former Liverpool striker told reporters at the final whistle that an abandonment of the game “would convey a negative image of our football.” He added, “I think Africa does not deserve that … I’d rather lose than this kind of thing happen to our football.”
Morocco head coach Walid Regragui heavily criticised his Senegal counterpart’s behaviour, claiming the image they had given African football was “shameful.”
“What Pape did does not honour Africa.”
The Irish Times, Maghrebi.org
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