FIFA President, Gianni Infantino has vehemently criticized the disorder that marred the Africa Cup of Nations final, labeling the actions of some Senegal players and fans as unacceptable.
The AFCON final, featuring Senegal and Morocco, was overshadowed by controversy when several Senegal players left the field late in regulation time to protest a penalty awarded to Morocco after a VAR review.
In a statement to AFP, Infantino stated that walking off the pitch in protest was inappropriate and harmful to the reputation of football.
He also condemned the ensuing violence, emphasizing that such conduct has no place in the sport.
The match was tied at 0-0 deep into injury time when Morocco was granted a penalty for a foul on Brahim Diaz.
This decision infuriated the Senegal team, who had just seen a goal disallowed for what many considered a questionable foul.
Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane remained on the field, attempting to persuade his teammates to return so the match could proceed.
Additionally, unrest erupted in the stands as some Senegal fans tried to storm the pitch, resulting in confrontations with security personnel.
The game was halted for nearly 20 minutes before Diaz eventually took the penalty, which was saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
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Senegal later clinched victory when Pape Gueye scored a stunning goal in extra time, securing a 1-0 win and the AFCON title.
While congratulating Morocco for hosting a successful tournament, Infantino stressed the importance of teams respecting match officials and the rules of the game.
He cautioned that incidents like those seen in the final send a negative message to fans worldwide.
Infantino also expressed his expectation that CAF disciplinary bodies would take appropriate measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
