Senegalese Football Federation files criminal complaint over World Cup defamation

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) lodged a criminal complaint on 3 July 2026 with the Dakar prosecutor's office, seeking to identify and prosecute the authors of an online article that alleged improper conduct by FSF officials during the federation’s stay in the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The article, circulated widely on social media, described lavish gala evenings, expensive alcohol and the presence of “galante compagnie” with the delegation, prompting the federation to label the claims “defamatory” and “false.”

FSF President Abdoulaye Fall, represented by lawyer Mohamed Seydou Diagne, cited Senegal’s penal code articles 255, 258, 260 and 262 as well as the press code, and emphasized the need to protect the federation’s reputation before FIFA, the Confederation of African Football, sponsors and partners. The federation reiterated respect for press freedom while demanding rigorous fact‑checking. The complaint follows Senegal’s elimination in the round of 16 by Belgium and ongoing internal tensions within the federation.

The FSF has transmitted alleged evidence to the public prosecutor and awaits a preliminary investigation that could lead to charges against the article’s creators and any accomplices.