Senegal’s historic triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2026 has been overshadowed by controversy, after ‘The Lions of Teranga’ defeated Morocco in highly unusual circumstances. The team’s dramatic exit from the pitch during the dying moments of the final has sparked speculation that Senegal could still face disqualification from the 2026 World Cup and, in the worst case, be stripped of their AFCON title.

The incident occurred when Senegal left the field following a contentious penalty decision awarded to Morocco while the score was still level. The match remained paused for nearly 20 minutes, and Morocco’s Brahim Diaz eventually missed the spot-kick after Senegal’s players returned to the pitch.

This act of protest has led to intense debate over whether the Senegalese side could face sanctions. Depending on the outcome of investigations and disciplinary proceedings, the consequences could be severe—potentially including disqualification from the World Cup and the revocation of their AFCON title.

If sanctions were applied, Senegal would not be the first team to face such punitive measures in football history.

17 Teams That Have Been Banned or Disqualified in Football History

Here are some notable examples of teams that have faced disqualification or bans across various competitions:

  1. All English Clubs (UEFA Competitions, 1985–1991) – Banned after the Heysel disaster, which killed 39 people during Liverpool’s European Cup final against Juventus.
  2. Barnsley (FA Cup, 2023) – Disqualified for fielding striker Aiden Marsh, who was ineligible due to loan restrictions.
  3. Besiktas (UEFA Competitions, 2013–2014) – Banned for a year due to a match-fixing scandal.
  4. Chile (World Cup, 1994) – Banned after goalkeeper Roberto Rojas faked an injury during qualifying for the 1990 World Cup.
  5. Fenerbahce (UEFA Competitions, 2013–2015) – Received a two-year European ban for involvement in match-fixing.
  6. Germany (World Cup, 1950) – Prevented from participating due to post-World War II repercussions.
  7. Japan (World Cup, 1950) – Also barred due to post-war circumstances.
  8. Greenwich Borough (FA Cup, 2000 & 2004) – Disqualified twice for fielding ineligible players; the club disbanded in 2020.
  9. Ismaily SC (CAF Champions League, 2018) – Disqualified after fans attacked officials and opposition players.
  10. Juventus (UEFA Competitions, 2023–2024) – Suspended from the Europa League for breaching Financial Fair Play rules.
  11. Mexico (International Football, 1988–1990) – Under-20 side fielded four ineligible players, resulting in a two-year suspension.
  12. Nigeria (International Football, 2014) – Briefly banned due to government interference; the suspension lasted nine days.
  13. FK Pobeda (UEFA Competitions, 2009–2017) – Received an eight-year ban due to betting irregularities.
  14. Real Madrid (Copa del Rey, 2015) – Disqualified for fielding Denis Cheryshev while he was suspended, and fined.
  15. Russia (FIFA & UEFA Competitions, 2022–Present) – Suspended following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
  16. South Africa (International Football, 1961–1992) – Banned for 31 years due to apartheid policies.

The fate of Senegal’s AFCON triumph remains uncertain as football authorities review the incident. Should the team face sanctions, it would mark one of the most significant disciplinary actions in recent football history.