Senegal’s dramatic walk-off during their final AFCON final win over Morocco has had everyone reading the rule books.
Winning coach Pape Thiaw called his players off after their injury time winner was overturned for a soft foul, and then Morocco were given a penalty for one just as soft.
Eventually Senegal’s squad returned from the dressing room to witness Brahim Diaz’s embarrassing Panenka that sent the game to extra time for a Senegal win.
Speaking post-match after having his press conference cancelled for security reasons, Thiaw said: “At one point, we disagreed. I asked the players to leave.
“After reflection, I really didn’t appreciate what I did. I apologise for the sake of football.
“We accept the referee’s mistakes. We shouldn’t have done it.”
Those in Morocco are already looking through the rule book to see if the act should have left to a forfeit, and CAF are pretty clear.
Article 82 states: “If, for any reason, a team […] refuses to play or leaves the field before the end of the match without the referee’s permission, it will be considered the loser and will be definitively eliminated from the competition.”
However, a technicality in the rules appears to have saved Senegal, as referee Jean-Jacques Ndala never officially recorded a refusal to play or whistled to stop the match.
According to Sofoot, this means CAF could not result to such drastic measures such as awarding Morocco a 3-0 win.
Despite appearing to be saved, the incident was still condemned by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
“We witnessed unacceptable scenes on the pitch and in the stands,” he said in a statement.
“We strongly condemn the behaviour of some ‘fans’ as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff.
“It is unacceptable to leave the pitch in this manner, and likewise, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport.”
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