 Fans clashed with Senegal police |
Fifa has agreed to postpone Friday's Olympic qualifier between Morocco and Gambia to avoid any re-run of the violence that has plagued relations between Gambia and Senegal in recent weeks. To get to Rabat for the game, Gambia would have had to travel through the capital of Senegal for a connecting flight.
But the authorities were worried that it could spark more rioting.
Violence flared in the Nations Cup qualifier between Senegal and Gambia in Dakar on 7 June.
Gambian fans began hurling stones and bottles during the game, which Senegal won 3-1.
Olympic Qualifying Zimbabwe v Ethiopia Zambia v Botswana Angola v Lesotho Uganda v Seychelles DR Congo v Rwanda Algeria v Chad Cameroon (holders) v Congo Burkina Faso v Ivory Coast Nigeria v Namibia Mali v Guinea |
Soldiers were unable to control the fighting, which spilled out onto the streets. Car's were damaged, businesses ransacked and set on fire, and many Gambians and Senegalese hurt.
In response, Senegalese in the Gambian capital Banjul and other towns were set upon as the violence and retaliation in both countries got out of control.
The border was closed to prevent further trouble, and a curfew imposed in Banjul.
Despite tensions having calmed, the Gambian FA said it was too risky to allow its players to travel through Dakar to Morocco.
Fifa is to decide a new date for the game.
The match is the third to have been postponed because of violence.
Ghana have refused to travel to Liberia for their game because of rebels closing in on Monrovia.
And Senegal will not be hosting Mauritania because of the coup attempt in Nouakchott.
MMIX
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