Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations triumph in January 2026 was marred by controversy as 'The Lions of Teranga' defeated Morocco in bizarre circumstances. That has led to speculation that they could still be disqualified and stripped of their title.
Pape Thiaw's side left the pitch in the dying moments of the match, with Morocco being awarded a controversial penalty decision with the scoreline still level. Brahim Diaz missed the spot kick almost 20 minutes after it was awarded, when the Senegalese players finally returned to the pitch.
Their actions have led some to believe there will be sanctions, which could be as severe as taking the title away from Sadio Mane and Co. However, they wouldn't be the first team to be banned or disqualified from a major football tournament. Per FourFourTwo, these 17 teams have also suffered that exact fate.
1. All English Clubs (UEFA Competitions, 1985-91)
champions league trophy
Following the tragic 1985 Heysel disaster, which saw 39 people killed, UEFA imposed a ban that applied to all English clubs. The horrific event took place in Liverpool's European Cup final against Juventus, and the suspension lasted all the way until 1991.
2. Barnsley (FA Cup, 2023)
Barnsley FA Cup
Barnsley were kicked out of the FA Cup in 2023 after fielding an ineligible player. The League One outfit were disqualified after playing striker Aiden Marsh in a first-round replay win vs Horsham. He wasn't permitted to play in that match as he was on loan for the original tie.
3. Besiktas (UEFA competitions, 2013-2014)
Besiktas
A one-year ban was handed out to one of Turkey's biggest clubs in the 2013-14 season. Besiktas were blocked from competing in UEFA competitions after being involved in a match-fixing scandal.
4. Chile (World Cup, 1994)
Chile
Chile weren't allowed to compete at the 1994 World Cup after a scandal that took place during qualifying for the 1990 version of the tournament. The South American nation needed a win against Brazil and goalkeeper Roberto Rojas went down, claiming an injury, when they were behind.
Rojas, who claimed to have been hit by a flare, joined his teammates in leaving the pitch in protest. However, it was later found he had cut himself with a razor blade and the player was banned for life.
5. Fenerbahce (UEFA competitions, 2013-2015)
Fenerbahce
Fenerbahce were involved in the same match-fixing scandal as Besiktas in 2013. However, the Super Lig giants were slapped with a two-year suspension from European competition.
6. Germany (World Cup, 1950)
Germany's players lift the World Cup trophy
The second-most successful nation in World Cup history, Germany, were prevented from taking part in the 1950 iteration of the competition. That was due to the Second World War, which resulted in the four-time winners being kept out of the first post-war tournament.
7. Japan (World Cup, 1950)
fifa world cup
Like Germany, Japan were also barred from entering the 1950 World Cup for the same reason.
8. Greenwich Borough (FA Cup, 2000 & 2004)
FA Cup trophy on display inside Wembley Stadium
Greenwich Borough, the first club of Arsenal legend Ian Wright, were disqualified from England's oldest cup competition twice. First, the non-league outfit fielded multiple ineligible players, leading to their 2000 suspension. They were then repeat offenders in 2004. The club disbanded in 2020.
9. Ismaily SC (CAF Champions League, 2018)
Crowd trouble during a CAF Champions League home clash against Tunisia’s Club Africain led to the disqualification of Egypt's Ismaily SC. Home supporters pelted an assistant referee and opposition players with bottles and stones, leading to the referee stopping the game.
10. Juventus (UEFA competitions, 2023-2024)
Juventus
Juventus have been involved in multiple massive scandals. The club, who were relegated to Serie B due to a match-fixing scandal in 2006, were then suspended from the Europa League in the 2023-24 season due to breaching Financial Fair Play rules.
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11. Mexico (international football, 1988-1990)
Mexico
Mexico's Under-20s side knowingly fielded four ineligible players in the 1988 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship. The punishment for the World Cup regulars was a two-year suspension from all international football. As a result, they missed Italia '90.
12. Nigeria (international football, 2014)
Nigeria
Nigeria received a ban from international competition due to FIFA's hard stance on government interference. The African nation were found guilty of exactly that, but they were only suspended for nine days in the end.
13. FK Pobeda (UEFA competitions, 2009-2017)
One of the longest-running bans on this entire list was handed to North Macedonian club FK Pobeda. Irregularities in betting patterns for a match against FC Pyunik of Armenia five years earlier were cited as the reason behind the eight-year ban.
14. Real Madrid (Copa del Rey, 2015)
Real Madrid players, 2015
Even the biggest club in world football can land in hot water. That's exactly what happened in the 2015 Copa del Rey, as Real Madrid were booted out of the competition for playing Denis Cheryshev, who was previously suspended on loan at Villarreal. A hefty fine was also slapped down.
15. Russia (FIFA & UEFA competitions, 2022-Present)
Gianni Infantino and Vladimir Putin
Russia are still unable to compete in any FIFA or UEFA competitions. That suspension applies to the national side and all clubs and it has been in place ever since Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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16. South Africa (international football, 1961-1992)
south africa
South Africa were banned from international competition for three whole decades (31 years). The apartheid system of racial segregation saw Bafana Bafana sanctioned.
17. Yugoslavia (international football, 1992)
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia's ban from football in 1992 turned out to be Denmark's miraculous gain. The Dane replaced Yugoslavia in the European Championships that year and went on to win the competition. The break-up of the country and the resulting wars were the reasons behind their expulsion.