Football governing bodies FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have strongly condemned the “unacceptable scenes” that disrupted Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Morocco and Senegal in Rabat, pledging to take appropriate disciplinary action against those found responsible.
The final was thrown into chaos late in normal time when referee Jean Jacques Mdala awarded Morocco a penalty following a VAR review for a challenge on Brahim Diaz, with the match still goalless. In protest, most Senegalese players walked off the pitch, leading to a stoppage of nearly 20 minutes. The situation escalated as clashes broke out in the stands involving some Senegalese supporters and Moroccan security personnel.
In a statement issued on Monday, CAF condemned the conduct of some players and officials but stopped short of assigning blame to either team. The continental body said it is reviewing all available footage and will refer the matter to its disciplinary bodies.
“CAF strongly condemns any inappropriate behaviour which occurs during matches, especially those targeting the refereeing team or match organizers,” the statement read, adding that appropriate action would be taken against those found guilty.
Senegalese players eventually returned to the field following intervention by former Liverpool forward Sadio Mané. The match resumed and Senegal went on to win the final in extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal to stun the largely Moroccan crowd at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino also condemned the incident, describing the scenes as unacceptable and stressing that violence and walkouts have no place in football.
“It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport,” Infantino said. He urged teams and players to respect match officials’ decisions and set the right example for fans worldwide.
While praising Morocco for hosting a “fantastic tournament,” Infantino warned that such incidents damage the image of African football and send the wrong message to global audiences.
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw later admitted he was wrong to instruct his players to leave the pitch, apologising and attributing the decision to a reaction made “in the heat of the moment.” Morocco coach Walid Regragui, however, expressed concern that the prolonged stoppage portrayed African football in a negative light.
CAF has reiterated that investigations are ongoing and that sanctions will be imposed once disciplinary processes are concluded.
