FIFA imposes a hefty fine on Senegal’s football federation for fan disorder during the side’s World Cup playoff game against Egypt

FIFA imposes a hefty fine on Senegal’s football federation for fan disorder during the side’s World Cup playoff game against Egypt

Liverpool striker Sadio Mane

FIFA, the international governing body of association football, futsal, and beach soccer recently fined Senegal’s football federation $180,000 for fan disorder for the laser beam incident, which included shining laser pointers at Mohamed Salah during the penalty shootout in the finals of the World Cup playoff game. Senegal was also ordered to play a future competitive game in an empty stadium.

On the other hand, Eqypt is also fined $6000 which is a small price to pay considering what they have lost in this incident. Their fans are enraged by FIFA’s retribution and are demanding uncompromising punishment which goes as far as disqualifying them from the competition. Meanwhile, Senegal fans, have accused Egypt fans of the same behavior in the past.

What exactly happened in the FIFA World Cup playoff game between Egypt and Senegal?

Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah

Senegal was through to the 2022 World Cup at the expense of Egypt in a controversial game. They defeated Egypt 3-1 on penalties to secure their spot in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The game became a talking point all over Twitter because of the laser beam incident.

FS Video

While arriving at the venue, the Egyptian team bus was attacked which resulted in postponing the game by 30 minutes by EFA. This was just the beginning as the players had bottles thrown at them during the game with claims also going as far as racism and offensive banners being displayed aiming at skipper Mohamed Salah.

Egyptian players particularly Salah were bombarded with shooting lasers which eventually lead to him missing the decisive penalty, knocking them out of the world cup.

Some similar cases during the FIFA World Cup qualifiers

FIFA also gave the verdicts for dozens of similar cases from World Cup qualifying games played since January and handed out several other fines and stadium closures.

FIFA imposed sanctions of $133000 on Congo and $103000 on Lebanon in similar cases at games against Morocco and Syria, respectively. Both got one-game stadium closures. Fan’s discrimination of Chile and Colombia at their home games, plus other offenses, led to fines of $98,000 and $56,500, respectively.

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