After the fans' memories of the Africa Cup of Nations final faded somewhat, CAF (African Football Confederation), the governing body of African football, issued official sanctions for the riots and controversies surrounding the match. The final had already "entered history" not just for trophies, but also with tensions on and off the field.
The unforgettable match ended in a victory for Senegal, but the events throughout the match, and especially at the end, caught everyone's attention. Problems with fans, players' refusal to play, controversial refereeing decisions, and unpunished penalties were mentioned as the most painful topics in the final.
The most discussed incident was Senegal's departure from the field after a penalty was awarded in favor of Morocco at the end of regular time. While everyone was saying "the final is the last step," the game nearly came to a standstill, which became the headache of the tournament.
Disqualification for Tiavga, major federation fine
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw was subsequently suspended by the CAF for five games. He will be fined $100,000 for leading the protests and "unsporting behavior."
The CAF also heavily penalized the Senegal Football Federation for the post-final unrest. A $300,000 fine has been imposed as "fan misconduct" for fans clashing with police. In addition, an additional $300,000 was added for the actions of the players and coaching staff. In addition, five players were fined an additional $15,000 for being warned by the referee.
Senegal stars Ndiaye and Ismail Sarr received two-match suspensions for their actions against the referee.
Important point: these disqualifications do not apply to the World Cup. Because FIFA will host the World Cup, not CAF. Consequently, penalties apply only within the framework of CAF official competitions.
Morocco was also "not left empty-handed"
Although most of the punishments fell on Senegal, Morocco also faced several sanctions.
Team captain Ashraf Hakimi received a two-match suspension for "sports-inappropriate behavior" in the final, one of which was suspended for one year. His teammate, Ismail Saibari, was suspended for three official CAF matches and fined $100,000.
The Moroccan Football Federation will pay a total fine of 315,000 dollars. This amount is related to the actions of the players and the coaching staff, as well as the use of laser beams by fans to distract the players during the final. The penalty is reportedly included even for the inappropriate behavior of the ball bearers who tried to snatch the Senegal goalkeeper's handkerchief during the game.
The tournament went great, but the point was put hard
This decision by the CAF put an official end to the tournament, which, in general, was held in high spirits, but the final was complicated. However, this point has not been left "quiet" in everyone's heart: debates, conflicting opinions, and heated discussions continue among African football fans.
One thing is clear: after this final, CAF showed that it no longer accepts the view that "as long as there is emotion, everything is possible." The final is a stage, and if the rules are broken on stage, the check is paid.
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