Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, has described the behaviour of the Senegal player and fans during the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as “unacceptable”.
Senegal walked off the pitch in their 1-0 AFCON ’25 final victory over Morocco, the host nation, in protest against the penalty awarded following VAR review for a foul on Brahim Diaz.
Tempers also flared in the stands following the decision, as angry Senegal fans confronted stewards and threatened to set the stadium on fire. The Senegalese players and coaching staff’s standoff lasted almost 20 minutes before they returned to the field for the match to resume.
In an Instagram post, Infantino strongly condemned the behaviours on and off the pitch as unacceptable.
The 55-year-old football administrator also stated that Senegal’s decision to walk off the pitch was not the right one.
“We also witnessed unacceptable scenes on the field and in the stands – we strongly condemn the behaviour of some ‘supporters’ as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff members,” the FIFA president writes.
“It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport, it is simply not right.”
Infantino also added that the actions of the Senegalese contingent were not within the laws of the game, and that CAF will be meting out appropriate punishment.
“We must always respect the decisions taken by the match officials on and off the field of play. Teams must compete on the pitch and within the Laws of the Game, because anything less puts the very essence of football at risk,” he writes.
Senegal survived the penalty call as Brahim Diaz had his Panenka kick saved, before Pape Gueye’s screamer sealed a second AFCON title for the Teranga Lions.
