Gianni Infantino calls for sanctions against Senegal after serious incidents in the final
FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned what he described as “unacceptable scenes” that occurred during the Africa Cup of Nations final played on Sunday in Rabat. He strongly criticized the behavior of several Senegalese players and members of the technical staff following their temporary walkout from the pitch during the match.
Senegal won the title against Morocco 1-0 after extra time, in a climate of extreme tension and disorder rarely seen at this level of competition. The award of a penalty to Morocco in the closing seconds of stoppage time in the second half, following a VAR review, triggered an uncontrolled reaction from some Senegalese players, who left the field before returning a few minutes later to resume play.
The tensions were not limited to the pitch. In the stands, Senegalese supporters attempted to invade the field for nearly a quarter of an hour, including at the moment Brahim Díaz was preparing to take the penalty. Security forces and organizers faced major difficulties in containing the situation, which was marked by scuffles and clashes, putting the safety of players, officials and spectators at risk.
In an official statement, Gianni Infantino said:
“We firmly condemn the behavior of certain Senegalese players and members of the staff. Leaving the field in this manner is totally unacceptable.”
He added:
“No form of violence can be tolerated in our sport. Respect for refereeing decisions is fundamental, both on and off the pitch. Teams must comply with the rules of the game, as any behavior to the contrary endangers the very essence of football.”
The FIFA president described the scenes as “regrettable and unworthy,” stressing that they must “never happen again.” He finally called on the competent disciplinary bodies of the Confederation of African Football to take “appropriate measures.”
Translated from Abderrazzak Boussaid’s French article – le7tv
