FIFA, world football governing body fined Senegal’s football federation 175,000 Swiss francs ($180,000) for fan disorder at their final World Cup qualifier playoff game against Egypt, where laser pointers were shone at Egypt player Mohamed Salah in the penalty shootout which Senegal went on to win.
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.
Nigeria was also fined for the fracas that broke after the Nigeria versus Ghana match in Abuja, Nigeria.
Video from the stadium showed that angry fans invaded the pitch after the match and damaged facilities until the police intervened.
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee said there was a lack of order and security at the match venue.
“Failure to implement existing safety rules and failure to ensure that law and order are maintained in the stadium, invasion of the field of play and throwing of objects.”
Apart from the fine, Nigeria will also play its next home match without fans.
Many other countries were also sanctioned for various infractions during the World Cup qualifiers played since January.
According to the document, the decisions were based on the specific circumstances of each case, adding that some of the decisions may be subject to appeal.
FIFA imposed fines of 125,000 Swiss francs ($128,000) on Congo and 100,000 Swiss francs ($103,000) 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 offenses, resulted in total fines of 95,000 Swiss francs ($98,000) and 55,000 Swiss francs ($56,500), respectively.
Copyright: The Associated Press, Zurich
