Senegal FA files criminal complaint over alleged defamatory World Cup claims

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has announced it has filed a criminal complaint against the authors of what it describes as a defamatory publication targeting the country’s football governing body following Senegal’s participation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In a statement issued on Friday, the federation said it was responding to what it called “serious media misconduct” after an article alleging misconduct by senior FSF officials during the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico circulated widely on social media and digital platforms.

The publication, titled “World Cup of football officials in the USA: gala evenings, vintage bottles of alcohol, presence of female companions on the menu”, allegedly accused FSF executives of conduct that the federation said was “completely contrary to integrity, ethics and the dignity of their responsibilities.”

The FSF rejected the allegations in their entirety, describing them as false and malicious, and accused those behind the report of attempting to damage the institution’s reputation.

According to the federation, the publication has harmed its standing among the Senegalese public, football stakeholders, FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), commercial partners and official sponsors.

As a result, FSF president Abdoulaye Fall, through legal counsel Mohamed Seydou Diagne, lodged a formal criminal complaint on Friday, July 3, with the Public Prosecutor at the Dakar High Court.

The federation said the complaint is based on provisions of Senegal’s Penal Code and Press Code relating to alleged defamation and the dissemination of false information.

It added that evidence had been submitted to prosecutors and requested the immediate opening of a preliminary investigation to identify and prosecute all those responsible for the publication.

While reaffirming its commitment to press freedom and the public’s right to information, the federation stressed that journalism must adhere to professional ethics and rigorous fact-checking.

“The exercise of journalism must imperatively conform to the elementary rules of ethics and factual verification,” the statement said.

The FSF also warned that any attempt to destabilise the administration of Senegalese football would not be tolerated.

Concluding its statement, the federation expressed confidence in the Senegalese judicial system, saying it believes the courts will restore the reputation of its officials and uphold the integrity of the organisation.