FIFA punishes Senegal for fan disorder
FIFA fined Senegal’s football federation 175,000 Swiss francs (just under J$28 million) yesterday for fan disorder at a World Cup play-off game, including shining laser pointers at Egypt star Mohamed Salah in the penalty shootout.
Salah’s face was a blur of vivid green light when he prepared to take his penalty, which he blasted over the bar. Senegal went on to win the shootout in Dakar in March with Salah’s Liverpool teammate Sadio Mané scoring the decisive spot kick.
FIFA said its disciplinary committee also looked into a pitch invasion by Senegal fans, an offensive banner, and the national federation’s “failure to ensure that law and order are maintained in the stadium”.
Senegal was also ordered to play a future competitive game in an empty stadium.
The FIFA disciplinary panel also judged dozens of similar cases from World Cup qualifying games played since November last year, and handed out several other fines and stadium closures.
Jamaica was fined 1,000 Swiss francs (J$158,000) for spectators throwing bottles at the end of the Reggae Boyz’s 1-1 draw with the United States of America on November 16. However, this was a light sanction in comparison to those issued to other nations.
Nigeria was punished with a 150,000 Swiss francs (around J$24 million) fine and one-game stadium closure. Fans invaded the field in Abuja and there were other incidents of disorder after Nigeria was eliminated at home by Ghana in their play-off.
FIFA imposed fines of 125,000 Swiss francs ( just over J$ 20 million) on Congo, and 100,000 Swiss francs (almost J$16 million) on Lebanon, in similar cases at games against Morocco and Syria, respectively. Both got one-game stadium closures.
Discrimination by fans of Chile and Colombia at their home games, plus other offences, resulted in total fines of 95,000 Swiss francs (J$15 million) and 55,000 Swiss francs (J$9 million), respectively.