Rabat – Senegalese players created chaos after a clear penalty was awarded to Ibrahim Diaz, refusing to accept the VAR-confirmed decision and attempting to leave the pitch in protest.
The situation escalated as players surrounded the referee and moved toward the tunnel, trying to halt the match. Amid the disorder, Sadio Mané stepped in, urging his teammates to return to the field and finish the game.
All observers emphasized that the penalty was legitimate, with no error in awarding Morocco the spot kick.
Analysts stressed that Senegal’s reaction turned a moment of high adrenaline into an unnecessary scandal, disrupting the match and creating chaos on the pitch.
The incident comes amid rising tension between Moroccan and Senegalese fans, following recent criticism by Senegal’s coach targeting Morocco’s logistics and hosting—despite global praise for the Kingdom’s exceptional organization of the tournament.
In an effort to ease the situation, Senegal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Saturday reaffirming the strong brotherhood and longstanding ties between the two nations.
