NOS Football•
FIFA and the African Football Association CAF have expressed their disapproval of the behavior of the players and staff of the Senegalese team during the Africa Cup final against Morocco. FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he assumes sanctions will follow.
“We condemn the behavior of some ‘supporters’ and some Senegalese players and staff,” said Infantino, who also condemned the clashes in a section with Senegalese fans. “It is unacceptable to leave the field in this way. And violence is not tolerated in our sport. I count on the relevant CAF committees to take appropriate measures.”
Infantino believes that the referee’s decision, who disallowed a Senegal goal and gave Morocco an easy penalty, should have been immediately respected. “Teams and players must behave responsibly, because they have an exemplary role for the fans in the stadium and the millions of TV viewers.”
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Unrest in a section with Senegalese fans -
Security guards intervene
Senegalese national coach Pape Thiaw acknowledged this today. He apologized in French media.
Difficult for arbitrage
Congolese referee Jean Jacques Ndala Ngambo lost control of the Senegalese after his two questionable decisions. As the players left the field, he watched helplessly.
“There is nothing in the rules about these types of situations,” says former referee Mario van der Ende in Ndala Ngambo. “As a referee you cannot impose far-reaching sanctions. Yes, you can give everyone a card, but then you are only left with a few players and the chaos is complete.”
At such times, arbitration must rely on diplomacy. “There are always match delegates present, they can also decide on these types of matters,” Van der Ende explains.
“These are neutral people from the association, often with nice ties and lots of pins on their lapels. Of course I don’t know whether there was contact between the referee and these people via the earphones, but I would always consult myself.”
Ultimately, it was Senegalese star player Sadio Mané who convinced his fellow players to finish the match. That decision won Senegal the African Cup of Nations and probably avoids a really severe punishment, which could otherwise have even had consequences for next summer’s World Cup.
In any case, it must have been a tough evening for Ndala Ngambo, Van der Ende thinks. “We cannot of course look into his head, but he may still be bothered by this for a while. It seemed as if he thought at one point: let me focus on what is happening inside the lines and ensure that the match is over as quickly as possible.”
