Morocco to Take Legal Action After Senegal Walk-Off in Afcon Final
Morocco is set to take legal action following the dramatic Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday, where Senegal walked off the pitch in protest over a penalty decision but eventually won the match.
The final in Rabat ended 1-0 in favour of Senegal after extra time. Morocco had a chance to snatch victory with a last-minute penalty at the end of regulation, awarded after a VAR review determined a tug on striker Brahim Diaz’s shoulder. Senegalese players reacted by leaving the field, causing a 14-minute delay before returning, during which Diaz missed the crucial spot-kick.
In a statement, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) said: “The Royal Moroccan Football Federation announces that it will pursue legal action with the Confederation of African Football and FIFA to rule on the walk-off of the Senegalese national team from the field during the final against the Moroccan national team, as well as on the events surrounding this decision, following the referee’s awarding of a penalty that was deemed correct by all experts.”
The federation added: “This situation had a significant impact on the normal course of the match and on the players’ performance.”
While Morocco’s specific aims in lodging the complaint remain unclear beyond challenging the match events, the incident has drawn widespread condemnation from football authorities. Fifa President Gianni Infantino and CAF both criticised Senegal’s players and coaching staff, stating that walk-offs and violent reactions have no place in the sport.
