Senegal fined Sh490 million by FIFA after Mo Salah was targeted with dozens of lasers in WC qualifier

By Agencies

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FIFA has fined Senegal's football federation Sh490 million for...

disgraceful fan behaviour after dozens of green lasers were beamed into the face of Egypt's Mohamed Salah as he prepared to take a spot kick during a penalty shootout.
The star was targeted in the World Cup qualifier at the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium outside Dakar, the capital of Senegal, on March 29, following a 1-1 draw between the two countries, over two legs.
Unsurprisingly, the Liverpool forward blasted his kick over the bar with TV pictures revealing his face illuminated by vivid green light. Salah's club team mate, Sadio Mane, put Senegal through to the World Cup finals in Qatar, when he tucked away his kick.
Bitter recriminations followed the game, with the Egyptian Football Association claiming its players were the victims of racist abuse, bombarded with bottles and stones and also targeted by lasers throughout the match, which was watched by a raucous crowd of 50,000 people.
FIFA has now said its disciplinary committee has investigated the lasers, 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'.
As well as the fine, Senegal was also ordered to play a future competitive game in an empty stadium.
All of which will be of little consolation to Egypt, who claimed they were targeted by thugs throughout the second leg of the play-off.
The Egyptians said their team bus was attacked on the way to the stadium, which is about 20 miles from the capital.
Egypt said its players were abused and pelted with missiles during the warm up and again as they left the pitch at full time, with security guards having to protect Salah.
During play, the green light of the laser pens could be seen shining on the players' faces and shirts.
The first leg of the fixture ended 1-0 to Egypt, but the Pharaohs suffered a setback inside four minutes of the second leg, when Hamdi Fathi scored an own goal to level the tie.
After an end-end encounter, Mane settled the shootout, which Senegal won 3-1.
It was a double blow for Egypt, who had suffered the heart break of a penalty shootout defeat to Senegal only weeks earlier in the African Cup of Nations, staged in Cameroon.
The FIFA disciplinary panel also judged dozens of similar cases from World Cup qualifying games played since January and handed out more fines and stadium bans
Nigeria were punished with a Sh375 million fine and a one-game stadium closure after fans invaded the pitch in Abuja after the Super Eagles were eliminated at home by Ghana in their playoff.