CAF Vows Regulatory Overhaul After Afcon Final Chaos

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has pledged to introduce changes to its statutes and regulations to prevent a repeat of the chaotic scenes from January’s Africa Cup of Nations final.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe stated that these updates aim to bolster confidence in referees, VAR operators, and judicial bodies like the Disciplinary and Appeal Boards. The announcement came after an executive committee meeting in Cairo, coinciding with the resignation of CAF’s general secretary.

The controversy erupted when Senegal walked off the pitch in protest over a penalty awarded to Morocco in the Rabat final. Although they returned and won 1-0 in extra time, CAF’s Appeal Board later stripped them of the title, sparking widespread backlash.

This ruling is now under challenge at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which could further damage CAF’s reputation if overturned. Motsepe highlighted consultations with top legal experts to align with global best practices and ongoing FIFA collaboration for referee training.

Despite admitting earlier this month to struggles with perceptions of integrity, Motsepe provided no concrete details on the impending reforms.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)