A significant controversy erupted during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final when Senegalese players and coaches staged a walk-off from the pitch. Their protest was triggered by the referee’s decision to award a penalty to the host nation, Morocco. This dramatic act sparked widespread debate and condemnation across the football world.
Gianni Infantino, President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), publicly expressed his profound frustration and strong disapproval of the actions taken by both the Senegalese players and their coach. He deemed their conduct in the final match, which took place on January 18, to be intolerable, particularly in light of reports that some fans subsequently engaged in violent behavior.
Infantino conveyed his stern message via social media, specifically on Instagram, where he called upon the Confederation of African Football (CAF) disciplinary committee to take decisive and appropriate action regarding the incident. He underscored the unacceptable nature of the walk-off, emphasizing that such defiance of authority and sportsmanship should never be repeated in professional football.
The 55-year-old FIFA President clarified that he did not attribute blame to the referee for the controversial penalty call. Instead, he underscored the fundamental principle of respecting the rules of the game on the field, urging all participating teams to uphold this standard.
In response to the incident, CAF also announced that it had meticulously reviewed video footage of the match between Morocco and Senegal. Following their review, the African football governing body echoed FIFA’s sentiments, condemning the actions of the Senegalese coach and players as similarly unacceptable. The final match itself was considerably affected by the controversy, experiencing a 14-minute delay preceding the penalty award to Brahim Diaz. The game ultimately extended well beyond regular time, with Senegal securing a dramatic 1-0 victory in the 94th minute, courtesy of Pape Gueye.
