senegal-morocco-fined-players-banned-over-african-cup-fiasco

Africa's soccer body issued fines worth more than $1 million and banned Senegal's coach and Senegalese and Morocco players on Wednesday following a shambolic African Cup soccer final this month that involved a walk-off protest with fans trying to storm the field and fights witnessed between journalists.

 

The sanctions announced by the Confederation of African Football included fines totalling $615,000 for the Senegalese soccer federation and $315,000 for the Morocco federation for unsporting and improper conduct by their players, coaching staff and supporters, among other offences.

 

The January 18 African soccer showpiece was marred by Senegal players walking off, led by coach Pape Thiaw in protest against a penalty awarded late in regulation time to hosts Morocco. Thiaw was banned for five African games and given an individual fine of $100,000 for bringing the game into disrepute, the African confederation said.

 

The game restarted after a delay of around 15 minutes, Morocco missed the penalty and Senegal won the African title 1-0 after extra time.

 

The heated final in Rabat also saw supporters trying to storm the field, Morocco and Senegal players scuffling on the sidelines, reporters from the two countries fighting in press areas and a bizarre sequence where Moroccan ball boys attempted to seize a towel being used by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, in an apparent bid to distract him and help their team win the continental title.

 

That behaviour by the home team's ball boys led to a $200,000 fine for Morocco's federation, which will be a co-host of the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal and has come under scrutiny for the chaotic African final.

 

Senegal players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were banned for two African games, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi was also banned for two games, with one suspended, and Morocco's Ismael Saibari was banned for three games and fined $100,000 for unsporting behaviour. The African soccer body dismissed an appeal by Morocco to have the result cancelled and Morocco declared the winner because of the Senegalese walk-off.

 

Also read: 5 smallest footballing nations that made it big