CAF plans to revise regulations following the issues encountered during the Afcon final
The Confederation of African Football announced plans to revise its statutes and regulations to prevent the absurd incidents witnessed during January’s Africa Cup of Nations final from recurring.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe stated that the changes would enhance trust and confidence in its referees, VAR operators, and judicial bodies, although he did not provide details.
The announcement came after a meeting of CAF’s executive committee in Cairo on Sunday, marking a tumultuous day for the organization as its general secretary stepped down.
African football’s governing body is facing a significant crisis of confidence following the appeal board’s decision to strip Senegal of the Cup of Nations title, a move that has drawn widespread criticism.
Senegal was determined to have forfeited the final in Rabat on January 18 after leaving the pitch in protest against a potentially crucial penalty given to Morocco. They came back and netted a goal in extra time to secure a 1-0 victory.
The decision is currently under scrutiny at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and should Senegal reclaim their title, it would represent an additional setback for CAF’s credibility.
“CAF has sought comprehensive legal counsel from leading African and international football attorneys and specialists to guarantee that the CAF statutes and regulations align with and apply global football best practices, both on and off the field,” Motsepe stated in a release on Sunday. “This is crucial for the respect, integrity, and credibility of African referees, VAR operators, and the CAF Disciplinary Board and Appeal Board.”
CAF is collaborating with FIFA to enhance the training of African referees, VAR operators, and match commissioners, aiming for them to reach the level of the best in the world… The CAF president noted, “CAF has made significant progress over the past five years in implementing governance, ethics, transparency, and managerial best practices.”
Motsepe did not provide more precise details on the changes and how they would prevent a recurrence of the Cup of Nations final controversy, acknowledging earlier this month that his organization was grappling with perceptions regarding its integrity.
