The disciplinary decisions issued by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following the dramatic incidents that marred the CAN 2025 final in Morocco were expected to bring closure to one of the competition’s darkest episodes.
However, they have ignited a fresh wave of controversy, with many observers denouncing what they view as an imbalance in the sanctions and an inexplicable leniency toward Senegal despite the gravity of its players’ walk‑off and the riots by its fans.
CAF sanctioned both the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), along with several players and officials involved in the turmoil.
Senegal’s head coach, Pape Bouna Thiaw, received a five‑match suspension and a $100,000 fine. Players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr were each suspended for two matches for unsporting behavior toward the referee. The FSF was hit with a total of $615,000 in fines for misconduct by supporters and staff.
But despite these penalties, the central question remains unanswered: why did CAF avoid legally qualifying the Senegalese team’s walk‑off and refusal to resume play?
The disciplinary ruling makes no explicit reference to a match abandonment, even though the walk‑off was the decisive act that triggered the unprecedented interruption of a CAN final.
This selective enforcement amounts to excessive indulgence. The Senegalese camp is punished for surrounding behavior like “attitudes and gestures” instead of being sanctioned for the gravest violation, namely leaving the pitch, halting the final, and exerting pressure on the referee and CAF officials.
Given the magnitude of the act, the sanctions appear strikingly lenient, casting doubt on CAF’s willingness to enforce its own competition regulations.
On the Moroccan side, the tone shifts dramatically. Achraf Hakimi was suspended for two matches (one suspended), while Ismaël Saibari received a three‑match ban and a $100,000 fine. The FRMF faces multiple penalties totalling $315,000 including for the behaviour of ball boys.
This accumulation gives the impression of a federation penalized not only for its own actions but for everything that occurred in the stadium, including elements far harder to control, especially in a climate already destabilized by Senegal’s walk‑off.
Adding further frustration, CAF completely dismissed Morocco’s official complaint, which cited Senegal’s violations of Articles 82 and 84 of the CAN regulations concerning match refusal and abandonment. The ruling provides no detailed reasoning or public justification.
