FIFA Excludes Referee Ndala from 2026 World Cup

FIFA has decided to exclude referee Jean Jacques Ndala from the list of officials for the 2026 World Cup due to his controversial performance during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final held in Rabat, Morocco. In this match, Senegal faced Morocco and emerged victorious with a score of 1-0.

Ndala faced significant criticism for his management of the game, particularly for failing to blow the final whistle despite Senegalese players walking off the field in protest. Additionally, he did not issue a yellow card when players returned to the field, which raised further concerns about his officiating.

Following these events, FIFA's decision to exclude Ndala was supported by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which subsequently stripped Senegal of the title. Senegal has since taken the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for an appeal.