Alfred Andriamanampisoa, president of the Malagasy Football Federation and club president of Elgeco Plus, has sparked national and international outrage after physically assaulting a player during a top-flight match on 19 June.
The violent incident occurred during a tense fixture between Elgeco Plus and Mama FC. With just under 10 minutes left on the clock, tensions boiled over on the pitch and a brawl erupted in the 81st minute.
What began as a scuffle between players quickly escalated into a full-scale melee—fuelled by the unexpected involvement of a high-ranking official.
In a shocking turn of events, Andriamanampisoa, who also serves as the president of Elgeco Plus, was seen storming onto the pitch and striking a player from the opposing team.
The incident, captured on video by spectators, quickly circulated across social media platforms and triggered a storm of criticism from fans, officials, and commentators both in Madagascar and beyond.
The match was ultimately abandoned before full-time as a result of the chaos.
Footage of Andriamanampisoa throwing punches has since prompted widespread condemnation and renewed scrutiny of governance within Malagasy football.
Many within the local footballing community have expressed serious concern over the conflict of interest posed by his dual role as both federation president and club executive.
Public confidence in the Malagasy Football Federation (FMF) has been shaken, with many fans and analysts questioning whether the federation’s internal disciplinary bodies are capable of handling the matter impartially.
Critics argue that Andriamanampisoa’s position at the head of the FMF compromises the federation’s ability to investigate the incident independently.
Amid mounting pressure, attention is now shifting toward continental and global governing bodies.
Calls are growing louder for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA to intervene, with advocates citing Article 58 of FIFA’s disciplinary code, which covers misconduct and behaviour that discredits the sport.
“Physical assault on a player by a sitting federation president is not only unacceptable—it’s unprecedented,” said one sports legal expert speaking to local media.
“The image of football in Madagascar is at stake, and so is the credibility of our institutions.”
Under CAF and FIFA regulations, offences involving violence or behaviour that brings the sport into disrepute can carry severe penalties.
Depending on the outcome of investigations, sanctions could range from a temporary suspension of several months to a lifetime ban from all football-related activities.
The disciplinary commission of the Malagasy Football Federation is reportedly reviewing the case, but many believe external oversight is crucial for a fair and transparent process.
The lack of trust in domestic governance, particularly with Andriamanampisoa at the helm of both the federation and one of the clubs involved in the incident, has only deepened calls for international arbitration.
As of now, Alfred Andriamanampisoa has yet to issue a public statement regarding the assault, nor has the FMF released any formal comment on potential sanctions.
The football community in Madagascar and abroad now awaits the next steps, as pressure mounts on the sport’s global and continental authorities to take decisive action.
📹 🥊 Le président de la Fédération malgache de football qui est à la fois président d’Elgeco plus ( Orange) a asséné deux coups de poings à un joueur de Mama FC ( Vert).
La FIFA va se saisir de l’affaire ⚖️ pic.twitter.com/r8WJG2u9zE
— Barea Football 🇲🇬 (@BareaFootball) June 30, 2025
