Top 10 football protests that changed match results

Football protests are rare, but when they occur, they often reshape match outcomes, tournament narratives, and even the laws of the game. From walk-offs and referee confrontations to official appeals that overturned results, these moments have left permanent marks on football history.

Here are 10 of the most significant football protests that directly changed match results or competition outcomes.

1. Senegal Walk-Off Protest – AFCON Final 2025

Competition: Africa Cup of Nations
Outcome Changed: Match flow altered, penalties and suspensions issued

Senegal’s temporary walk-off during the AFCON final against Morocco following a controversial VAR penalty decision caused a prolonged stoppage. CAF later punished both teams but rejected Morocco’s protest, officially confirming Senegal as champions. The incident reshaped disciplinary standards around protests at major finals.

2. Chile vs Soviet Union – World Cup Qualifier 1973

Competition: FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Outcome Changed: Match awarded by forfeit

The Soviet Union refused to play Chile in Santiago due to political unrest. Chile walked onto the pitch alone, scored into an empty goal, and FIFA awarded them a 2–0 victory — one of the most infamous protest outcomes in football history.

3. Egypt Walk-Off vs Ghana – AFCON Qualifier 2013

Competition: AFCON Qualifiers
Outcome Changed: Match forfeited

Egyptian players abandoned the pitch after refereeing disputes. CAF later awarded the match to Ghana and fined Egypt, reinforcing strict rules against walk-offs in African football.

4. Barcelona vs PSG – Champions League 2017 (Official Protest)

Competition: UEFA Champions League
Outcome Changed: Protest rejected, result upheld

After Barcelona’s historic 6–1 comeback, PSG lodged an official protest over refereeing decisions. UEFA dismissed the appeal, but the case intensified VAR reforms and referee scrutiny across Europe.

5. Nigeria vs Senegal – U-17 World Cup Qualifier 2018

Competition: Youth World Cup Qualifiers
Outcome Changed: Result annulled

Nigeria protested Senegal’s use of overage players. CAF upheld the complaint, disqualified Senegal, and advanced Nigeria — a protest that directly reversed qualification.

6. Iran Women’s National Team Protest – 2011

Competition: Olympic Qualifiers
Outcome Changed: Global policy shift

Iran protested FIFA’s hijab ban after being disqualified minutes before kickoff. Though the match stood, FIFA later changed its rules — one of the rare cases where protest altered football law itself.

7. Cameroon vs Algeria – World Cup Qualifier 2022

Competition: FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Outcome Changed: Appeal rejected

Cameroon protested refereeing decisions after a dramatic loss to Algeria. While FIFA rejected the appeal, the protest led to referee suspensions and procedural reforms.

8. Juventus vs Inter – Serie A Protest 1998

Competition: Italian Serie A
Outcome Changed: Title race altered indirectly

Juventus’ penalty appeal against Inter was denied, but the controversy forced officiating reforms in Italy and permanently changed how referees were evaluated.

9. South Africa vs Senegal – World Cup Qualifier Replay 2017

Competition: FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Outcome Changed: Match replayed

Following South Africa’s protest over match manipulation, FIFA ordered a full replay — a rare decision that directly changed the qualification outcome.

10. Morocco Protest vs Senegal – AFCON Final 2025

Competition: AFCON
Outcome Changed: Protest dismissed

Morocco lodged a formal complaint claiming Senegal’s walk-off disrupted the penalty process. CAF rejected the protest, reinforcing Senegal’s title win and setting a precedent on match interruptions.

Why Football Protests Matter

Football protests:

Influence referee accountability
Shape disciplinary codes
Set precedents for future competitions
Occasionally overturn results entirely

While most protests fail, the few that succeed reshape football governance forever.