Senegal riots cost them $100.000 at Brazil 2014 doorstep

Posted by Pablo R on Jan 7, 2013 in World Cup | 0 comments

The numerous fans riots in Senegal’s national stadium forced the cancellation of a collation qualifying for the African Cup of Nations against Ivory Coast. After this incident Senegalese selection won’t be able to use their stadium during the 2014 World Cup qualifying.

The Confederation of African Football said on Thursday it imposed a veto from one year to Leopold Senghor stadium in Dakar, which seats 60,000 spectators. Dakar stadium is a key stadium of Senegal since it was constructed many decades ago. This stadium housed many championship defining matches, having much of a symbolic value to fanatics and athletes of Senegal.

Senegal, still vigorously trying to qualify for Brazil 2014 world cup, must resort to an alternate location in March, month in which they will face Aangola, and jumping ahead a few months in September, when they will play against Uganda. Then, the selection may progress to a stage round of matches scheduled for October and November, which will be define which countries will proudly become the African representatives of what is coming to be a great Brazil 2014.

On 13 October, when Ivory Coast took an unassailable against Senegal, local fans began to stage violence. They lit bonfires in the stands and threw objects onto the field, where the police had to protect the players. This huge outburst quickly resonated within the media, posing the fear that this isn’t the last event of this kind until next World Cup. Numerous Senegalese authorities expressed deep disappointment with the riots and all the mayhem caused.

The Confederation also fined the Senegal Football Association with 50.00 dollars plus another 50,000 which will be paid on numerous payments for a period of two years. On top of this, Senegalese authorities also shared with the media that this fine and veto comes with a prize that cannot be paid and that is shame

The day of the incident police officers tried almost everything to calm the rioters but no avail. Seeing that the mayhem continued to grow, they ended up firing Tear Gas to disperse the crowd. The method of course worked, but no without consequence, leaving an important fine and a great deal of shame behind.