FIFA President Gianni Infantino has weighed in on the chaos that marred the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and hosts Morocco in Rabat on Sunday.
The tense encounter, which Senegal eventually won 1–0, was overshadowed by controversial officiating decisions that sparked outrage among Senegalese players. Match referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded a late penalty to Morocco following a foul on Brahim Diaz, a decision that infuriated the Senegal camp.
Senegal’s frustration was compounded by an earlier call that saw one of their goals disallowed for a foul on Achraf Hakimi. In protest, several Senegal players briefly walked off the pitch before being persuaded to return by teammate Sadio Mané.
Reacting to the incident, Infantino described the players’ decision to leave the field as unacceptable, stressing the need for respect and discipline in football.
“It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence can’t be tolerated in our sport. It is simply not right,” Infantino said.
He added that while emotions can run high, teams must respect match officials and adhere to the Laws of the Game, warning that any action to the contrary threatens the integrity of football.
