French journalist Vanessa Le Moine, who hosted coverage of the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on beIN Sports, has announced she will stop covering football matches for the channel at the end of the current season.
Her decision comes after a wave of abusive and hostile messages she received on social media following her handling of the AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal.
In a post on Instagram, Le Moine wrote: “Thank you, football, for the encounters and beautiful moments, but now it’s time to leave. At the end of the season, I will stop this, and now I feel liberated.” She explained that she came under heavy fire for comments she made in a post‑match interview with Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
During that interview, Le Moine referred to incidents that took place on the pitch after a late penalty was awarded to Morocco in regular time, and notably did not congratulate Senegal on their title. At one point she told Mendy: “I hesitate to congratulate you on this victory, especially after what we witnessed in the match.” a line that angered many Senegal supporters and even the player himself.
The journalist said that, while she firmly rejects the online harassment she suffered, what hurt her most was the lack of support from colleagues, some of whom publicly criticized her work in harsh terms. That, she added, was the final straw that pushed her to step away from football altogether after she finishes her remaining commitments in France’s second division.
beIN Sports responded by stating that it does not comment on personal statements by its employees on social media. The network nevertheless expressed its strong condemnation of all forms of attacks on its staff, implicitly backing Le Moine’s right to work without facing digital abuse and threats.
