Sani Ali K/Mata
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has issued a firm public statement condemning the actions of the Senegal national team during the chaotic 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, labeling their decision to leave the pitch as ‘unacceptable’.
The statement comes after Senegal’s dramatic 1-0 extra-time victory over hosts Morocco, a match overshadowed by a 14-minute stoppage caused by the Senegalese protest.
The controversy erupted in stoppage time when referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty via VAR review for a foul on Brahim Díaz. The Senegalese team, already aggrieved by the referee’s earlier decision to disallow a late goal of their own for a foul on Achraf Hakimi, saw the penalty call as a final injustice.
Coach Pape Thiaw subsequently ordered his players to walk off the field. They only returned after captain Sadio Mané intervened to calm the situation and urge them back.
In his reaction, Infantino emphasized strict adherence to the authority of match officials and the Laws of the Game. “It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence can’t be tolerated in our sport. It is simply not right,” the FIFA President stated.
