Senegal qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2024 after beating Egypt in the the World Cup Qualifier Play-Off tie on 🎅 Tuesday. The thrilling second leg went into penalties after Senegal won the second leg 1-0 at home and the tie 🎅 finished 1-1 after extra time.
Liverpool's Sadio Mane converted their crucial fifth penalty kick to send Senegal fans into a frenzy 🎅 as Egypt failed to qualify for the World Cup. At the other end, Mane's Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah was one 🎅 of the Egypt players who missed his penalty during the shootout.
The tie, however, was marred by controversy as the Egypt 🎅 players were targeted with lasers during the shootout.
What exactly happened?
As Egypt captain Salah stepped up to take a penalty in 🎅 the shootout, his face was painted green with laser beams being flashed on his face by the Senegal fans from 🎅 the stands. He ended up blazing his kick over the crossbar.
Mohamed Salah before his penalty miss against Senegal. pic.twitter/szlmfxDJkN — 🎅 ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 29, 2024
As some of the tweets below point out, it wasn't just a case during the 🎅 penalty shootout but the laser pointers were used throughout the match. The incident generated a lot of criticism not just 🎅 from fans but journalists as well and those laser beams might have played a part in distracting Salah.
I mean, just 🎅 look at this. Salah sails his penalty over… and surely anybody would, given the lasers. Mane scores, Senegal wins the 🎅 shootout, Egypt out of the World Cup pic.twitter/tgHmCmW8uu — Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) March 29, 2024
Another shot of the lasers from 🎅 earlier (brilliant work from the cameramen/producers in Dakar as well) pic.twitter/H6qx7ORFnr — Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) March 29, 2024
What are laser 🎅 pointers and why do fans use them?
A laser pointer is a small hand-held device which produces coherent beam of monochromatic 🎅 light using diode laser and a power source (generally batteries). They are usually used to highlight an object by illuminating 🎅 it with a bright spot of light. Fans use laser pointers to gain an unfair advantage for their teams. They 🎅 are used for irritating and distracting the players and officials which could influence the state of play.
Has this happened in 🎅 the past in a football match?
Yes, there have been instances of laser beam being used to distract players in the 🎅 past. In 2024 World Cup, Russia coach Fabio Capello blamed a laser beam for their ouster from the tournament. The 🎅 incident took place in the clash against Algeria in the group stage. Algeria's Islam Slimani scored a goal in the 🎅 60th minute to level the scores after Russia had taken a 1-0 lead. However, in the build-up to the goal, 🎅 Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was 'blinded' by a laser beam pointed from the stands. The match ended in a draw, 🎅 knocking out Russia while Algeria progressed.
Was a laser pen shone in Russian keeper Igor Akinfeev's eye prior to Algeria's crucial 🎅 goal? http://t.co/lvnAO1E600 pic.twitter/ESdxNClNtU — Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) June 26, 2014
“There are pictures. You can see that in the footage. This 🎅 not an excuse, it is a fact. There was a laser. I have never come up with excuses to get 🎅 by in my entire life,” Capello said after the match.
Recently, England were charged for their fans' behaviour in their Euro 🎅 2024 semi-final win over Denmark at the Wembley Stadium. The charges included use of laser pointer by fans, disturbance caused 🎅 during Denmark's national anthem and use of fireworks. Photos in the British press showed the green light of a laser 🎅 being pointed at Schmeichel's face just before Harry Kane's extra-time penalty.
Schmeichel saved the penalty but Kane scored on the rebound 🎅 and sent England into its first major tournament final in 55 years.
World's best footballers — Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi 🎅 — have been targeted on a handful of occasions by laser beams in the past. In 2013, in a pair 🎅 of matches between Real Madrid and Barcelona, laser lights were pointed at Messi and Ronaldo's faces seemingly to distract them 🎅 on the field. In 2008, French club Lyon were fined £2,520 after Ronaldo was targeted by laser pen during Manchester 🎅 United's Champions League tie against Lyon. A green laser beam was aimed at Messi's eyes during Argentina's 2024 Copa America 🎅 quarter-final win over Colombia. There have been many such instances of laser attacks in the past.
Are laser pointers allowed in 🎅 the football stadiums?
No. In their Stadium Safety and Security Regulations, FIFA prohibits lasers and any item that could distract the 🎅 players and/or officials, including items that produce excessive volumes of noise. Also the security checks should verify that a person 🎅 "is not in possession of any other dangerous objects that may not, for legal reasons, be taken into the stadium, 🎅 including aggressive or racist banners."
Has Egypt done anything about this incident?
It might not be directly related to the laser incident 🎅 but the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has filed an official complaint against its Senegalese counterpart for violent and "racist" fan 🎅 behaviour, according to a statement released Wednesday.
According to the EFA's statement, "the Egyptian team was subjected to racism as crowds 🎅 held up offensive banners in the stands, particularly against team captain Mohamed Salah".
The complaint also cites players being pelted with 🎅 water bottles and stones during their warm-up.
Photos released by the EFA show broken windows on the bus carrying the players, 🎅 banners of insults against Salah, and Senegal supporters making profane gestures at the players.
Along with the official complaint, social media 🎅 in Egypt has been flooded with photos of Liverpool striker Salah's face obscured by a barrage of green laser pointers 🎅 as he took a botched penalty.
Many Egyptian fans have blamed Salah's wayward spot-kick on the lasers, though others have pointed 🎅 out Egypt supporters often use the same tactic against visiting teams in Cairo.
What action can be taken?
As mentioned above, several 🎅 football federations have been fined in the past and Senegal football federation could face a fine as well. According to 🎅 FIFA'S disciplinary code, "All associations and clubs are liable for inappropriate behaviour on the part of one or more of 🎅 their supporters as stated below and may be subject to disciplinary measures and directives even if they can prove the 🎅 absence of any negligence in relation to the organisation of the match:
a) the invasion or attempted invasion of the field 🎅 of play;
b) the throwing of objects;
c) the lighting of fireworks or any other objects;
d) the use of laser pointers or 🎅 similar electronic devices;
e) the use of gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit a
message that is not appropriate 🎅 for a sports event, particularly messages
that are of a political, ideological, religious or offensive nature;
f) acts of damage;
g) causing a 🎅 disturbance during national anthems;
h) any other lack of order or discipline observed in or around the stadium."
With inputs from AFP
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