News

FIFA Criticizes Senegal’s Conduct Following AFCON Final Victory

Estimated Reading Time

5 minutes

Key Takeaways

  • Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 in the AFCON final, winning their second trophy in three editions
  • FIFA president Gianni Infantino and CAF both condemned the match incidents as ‘unacceptable’ behavior
  • Senegal coach Pape Thiaw ordered players to leave the field in protest after Morocco was awarded a controversial stoppage-time penalty
  • The final featured disputed VAR decisions: a disallowed Senegal goal followed minutes later by a controversial penalty for Morocco
  • A 24-minute delay occurred between the penalty award and its execution, during which Senegal players remained off the field
  • Morocco forward Brahim Díaz missed the penalty with a weak Panenka-style chip saved by Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy
  • Pape Gueye scored the winning goal for Senegal four minutes into extra time
  • CAF and FIFA announced investigations into player conduct, fan violence, and the walkout, with potential sanctions for Thiaw
  • Morocco has filed complaints with FIFA and CAF, questioning the refereeing decisions and requesting review of the match

Table of Contents

  • Background
  • The Disputed Officiating Decisions
  • The Walkout and Delay
  • The Penalty and Extra Time
  • Official Condemnation and Disciplinary Response
  • Morocco’s Official Response
  • Context: AFCON and Morocco’s Hosting
  • Unverified Claims and Open Questions
  • Current Status
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Background

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final took place at Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat, Morocco, between Senegal and host nation Morocco. This was Morocco’s first appearance in an AFCON final in 22 years, representing a significant achievement for the host nation. Senegal came into the match as defending champions, having won the tournament in recent editions.

The Disputed Officiating Decisions

The match remained scoreless through regulation time but became controversial in the final moments. With approximately five minutes remaining in stoppage time, Senegal appeared to score a goal that would have secured victory. However, the referee disallowed the goal, calling a foul in the build-up. Senegal players and coaching staff believed the decision was incorrect, and according to match winner Pape Gueye, the referee did not consult VAR before making the decision.

Minutes later, the situation reversed dramatically. Morocco was awarded a penalty after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala. The VAR check determined that Morocco forward Brahim Díaz had been pulled to the ground by Senegal fullback El Hadji Malick Diouf while defending a corner. This decision further frustrated Senegal, who felt they had been denied a legitimate goal moments earlier.

The Walkout and Delay

In response to the penalty award, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw ordered his players to leave the field and return to the locker room, preventing Díaz from immediately taking the penalty kick. This walkout caused a significant delay, with reports indicating approximately 14 to 24 minutes passed before play resumed. During this time, Senegal fans clashed with police at the stadium, and some attempted to enter the field of play.

Vice-captain Sadio Mane played a crucial role in convincing teammates to return to the pitch to continue the match. According to Gueye, Mane encouraged the team to “remobilise” and return to play. Thiaw later acknowledged his error, telling beIN Sports:

“After thinking about it, I realised that I shouldn’t have asked them to go off. I apologise for that.”

Pape Thiaw, Senegal Coach

“Sadio told us to come back on and we remobilised… We had a feeling of injustice. Just before the penalty, we thought we should have had a goal and the referee didn’t go to VAR.”

Pape Gueye, Senegal match winner

The Penalty and Extra Time

When play resumed after the lengthy delay, Brahim Díaz attempted the penalty in the 24th minute of stoppage time. However, he executed what is known as a Panenka-style chip kick—a slow, delicate chip shot—which proved weak and low. Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy easily saved the effort, keeping the match at 0-0 and forcing it into extra time.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui suggested the extended delay negatively affected Díaz’s performance, but acknowledged that the poor execution could not be excused. Díaz later issued a statement expressing his disappointment:

“My soul hurts. I dreamed of this title thanks to all the love you all gave me, every message, every show of support that made me feel I wasn’t alone.”

Brahim Díaz

In extra time, Pape Gueye scored a powerful shot for Senegal just four minutes in, securing a 1-0 victory. This goal handed Senegal their second AFCON trophy in three editions.

Official Condemnation and Disciplinary Response

FIFA president Gianni Infantino attended the match and subsequently condemned the incidents on his Instagram account. He stated:

“The ugly scenes witnessed must be condemned and never repeated.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino

And expressed that “violence cannot be tolerated in our sport.” Infantino specifically criticized “some Senegal players and technical staff members” for leaving the field.

“It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner. Equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport, it is simply not right.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) also released a statement, describing the behavior as “unacceptable” and pledging to “take appropriate measures” against “those found guilty.” CAF stated it was “reviewing all footage and will refer the matter to competent bodies for appropriate action to be taken,” though the organization did not explicitly name Senegal in its initial public statement.

“I expect that the relevant disciplinary bodies at CAF will take the appropriate measures.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw faced the prospect of severe sanctions, though the scope of potential bans—whether limited to African competitions or extending to FIFA World Cup eligibility—remained unclear at the time of reporting.

“It is also the responsibility of teams and players to act responsibly and set the right example for fans in the stadiums and millions watching around the world.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino

Morocco’s Official Response

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) responded, announcing that it would initiate formal complaints before FIFA and CAF. The federation characterized the Senegal withdrawal as “accompanied by incidents” that “disrupted the normal course of the match and the performance of the players.”

Morocco coach Walid Regragui publicly criticized Thiaw’s decision, calling the walkout “shameful” and stating it presented “a shameful image of African soccer for the rest of the world to see.” He added:

“The match we had was shameful for Africa.”

Walid Regragui, Morocco Coach

“A coach who asks his players to leave the field… What Pape did does not honour Africa. He wasn’t classy.”

Walid Regragui, Morocco Coach

Context: AFCON and Morocco’s Hosting

The tournament has been noted as a showcase for Morocco’s infrastructure and organizational capability, with Morocco having successfully bid to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. This context has led to questions about whether host-nation bias influenced referee decisions, though this remains a matter of debate rather than established fact.

Unverified Claims and Open Questions

Some observers have suggested potential referee bias favoring the host nation, but this remains speculative. The exact nature and severity of sanctions to be imposed on Thiaw and other officials involved has not been definitively determined as of the reporting dates.

Current Status

CAF and FIFA had announced ongoing investigations but had not yet issued final disciplinary decisions. Thiaw publicly apologized for his actions but faced potential significant sanctions. Senegal’s participation in upcoming World Cup qualifiers and international competitions remained uncertain pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disciplinary sanctions against Pape Thiaw apply only to African competitions (CAF), or will they extend to FIFA World Cup eligibility for Senegal?

The scope of potential bans for coach Pape Thiaw remains unclear, with investigations by CAF and FIFA ongoing. Sanctions could be limited to African competitions or extend to FIFA World Cup eligibility.

What specific violations and severity of sanctions will be imposed on Thiaw and other officials by CAF and FIFA?

CAF and FIFA are reviewing all footage to determine specific violations. They have pledged to take appropriate measures against those found guilty, but final disciplinary decisions have not yet been issued.

Was there evidence of referee bias toward Morocco as the host nation, or were the controversial decisions justified according to official FIFA VAR protocols?

Some observers have suggested potential referee bias, but this remains speculative. The justification of controversial decisions according to VAR protocols is under review as part of the ongoing investigations.

What specific fan violence incidents occurred, and what disciplinary action will be taken against Senegal supporters who clashed with police?

During the match delay, Senegal fans clashed with police at the stadium, with some attempting to enter the field. CAF and FIFA investigations include fan conduct, and appropriate action will be taken.

Will CAF and FIFA conduct a formal review of the VAR decision to disallow Senegal’s goal to determine if the referee correctly applied the rules?

Morocco has filed complaints questioning refereeing decisions, including the disallowed Senegal goal. CAF and FIFA’s ongoing investigations will likely review all controversial VAR applications.

Will the tournament organizers review VAR protocol implementation given the controversial decisions in the final?

The controversial decisions in the final highlight a potential need for review of VAR protocol implementation by tournament organizers as part of future improvements.

What is the timeline for CAF and FIFA to issue final disciplinary rulings?

As of the latest reports, CAF and FIFA had announced ongoing investigations but had not yet issued final disciplinary decisions. A specific timeline for these rulings is not yet public.

Will Senegal’s victory be officially recognized despite the match controversies, or could it be contested?

Morocco has filed formal complaints regarding the match incidents. While Senegal’s victory was achieved on the field, the controversies mean its official status could be subject to further review by governing bodies.