Senegal have been fined and their coach and two players have also been suspended following chaotic scenes of protests during the AFCON final against Morocco.
Pape Tiau orders his team off the field (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Senegal faced serious penalties following an unpleasant scene in the AFCON final, with manager Pape Tiao receiving a five-match ban and two of his players receiving similar punishments.
This is the same fine handed down by African football’s governing body CAF. They were fined with a number of misdemeanors, including unsporting conduct and misconduct, totaling £440,000. Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr, who were involved in the late-game chaos, were both given two-match suspensions.
It all started when defeated finalists Morocco were given a stoppage-time penalty. West Ham star El Hadji Malick Diouf was nailed for a foul on Brahim Dias, referee Jean-Jacques N’Dala was called for VAR and a spot-kick was awarded.
Senegal’s players and coaching staff, with the exception of Liverpool legend Sadio Mane, eventually left the pitch and returned to the changing rooms in protest.
read more: Brahim Diaz releases statement on AFCON punishment after claims he missed on purposeread more: Sadio Mane finally decides to retire after AFCON final controversy
Although they finally returned after 17 minutes after a long delay, Morocco’s moment of glory was a Panenka attempt by the Real Madrid star, but ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved and Senegal won in extra time. But the unwelcome sight for the entire continent became global news.
Thiau has since admitted his mistake after leading his team off the pitch. “I apologize for what happened to soccer. After reflecting, I let them return (to the pitch). You can react with the intensity of the moment,” he said.
“We accept the referee’s mistake. We shouldn’t have done it, but it’s over. We now apologize to the football community.”
Senegal’s two star players have been suspended, as has their head coach (Image: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Thiau’s anger, particularly towards the referee, stemmed from the referee’s disallowance of a goal by Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr, who scored from close range earlier in the match. Morocco’s coach Walid Legulagui said Senegal’s actions were “disgraceful”.
Mane refused to take part in the sending-off protest and instead played a central role in getting the players back onto the pitch, and was praised for his role in restoring peace.
He said, “Soccer was something special and the world was watching. So we have to give a good image to football. I think it’s strange not to play this game just because the referee gave a penalty and we were sent off from the match. I think it’s the worst thing to happen, especially in African football. I’d rather lose than have something like this happen to our football.”
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