FIFA sanction Senegal for fan disorder during laser-pen fiasco in World Cup play-off win over Egypt

AFP via Getty Images
Jonathan Gorrie2 May 2022

FIFA has announced Africa Cup of Nations winners Senegal have been fined and ordered to play behind closed following fan disorder during their World Cup play-off win against Egypt.

A one-match ban on spectators has been imposed along with a fine of175,000 Swiss Francs - roughly £43,000 - to the Senegalese Football Federation after Egyptian players, including Mohamed Salah, were targeted with lasers.

FIFA launched a probe into alleged breaches of order and security after the second leg of the play-off, which the home side had won 1-0 through Hamdi Fathi’s own goal to level the aggregate scores and take it to a shoot-out.

Footage from the game showed green lights visible on the faces of Egypt players as they stepped up to take their penalties.

Salah, Mostafa Mohamed and Ahmed Sayed all missed from 12 yards before the Reds striker’s club-mate Sadio Mane converted his attempt to win the shoot-out 3-1 and book Senegal’s place in Qatar.

The Egypt Football Association posted pictures of the affected players on its Instagram page accompanied by the caption, "It happens to the best", and also images apparently showing damage to the team’s bus.

Senegal’s victory mirrored their earlier success over the same opposition in the Africa Cup of Nations final in February, in which Mane also scored the decisive penalty in a shoot-out following a 0-0 draw.

Additional reporting from PA

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