FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Senegalese Football Federation following an incident at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The action stems from Senegal's national team walking off the pitch during their quarter-final match against Ivory Coast on February 1, 2026.
The walk-off occurred in the 85th minute, with the score at 1-1, after a penalty decision by the referee went against Senegal. The team refused to continue playing, leading to the match being abandoned. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) subsequently awarded a 2-0 victory to Ivory Coast, eliminating Senegal from the tournament.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee is investigating the case for potential violations of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, including abandonment of a match and failure to ensure order and security. Possible sanctions include fines, a deduction of points in future competitions, or an order to play future matches behind closed doors.
This incident has drawn significant criticism from football governing bodies and sparked debate about sportsmanship and referee decisions in African football. The Senegalese federation has stated it will await the official ruling before commenting further.
