Former Ballon d’Or winner George Manneh Weah has strongly criticised the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following its decision to withdraw the AFCON 2025 championship from Senegal and award it to Morocco, calling the move a “travesty” that undermines the integrity of African football.
In a statement released on March 18, the former president of Liberia, argued that the decision contradicts the fundamental principles of football governance, particularly the authority of referees during matches.
“Football must be decided on the pitch, not re-decided after the final whistle,” Weah said.
Referee Authority at the Centre of Dispute
At the heart of the controversy is CAF’s post-match ruling, which overturned the result of the AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco despite the match being completed on the field.
Weah pointed to the Laws of the Game, specifically Law 5, which grants referees ultimate authority over match decisions.
“The referee on the pitch is the final authority on decisions made during the match. Once play is allowed to continue and the match is completed, the result obtained on the field must stand,” he stated.
According to Weah, the referee allowed the match to proceed even after a reported walk-off by Senegal, with the game ultimately concluding, including extra time, and producing a final result.
He further noted that the referee’s post-match report described the incident as a stoppage rather than a forfeiture.
“The referee report noted a stoppage during the match, not a forfeiture, and recommended appropriate sanctions for the infractions during the match,” he said.
CAF Decision Sparks Integrity Concerns
Despite this, CAF’s disciplinary committee later ruled to strip Senegal of the title and award it to Morocco—a move Weah says sets a dangerous precedent.
“There is therefore no sporting justification to nullify a match that was completed in accordance with the referee’s authority,” he argued.
He warned that such interventions could open the door to widespread post-match interference in football decisions.
“Otherwise the beautiful game will head down a slippery slope where committee room officials, not match officials, will be making post-match rulings to override referees’ on-field decisions.”
Weah added that the ruling has “scarred and blemished African football,” raising serious questions about fairness and consistency in CAF competitions.
Call for CAS Intervention
The former Liberian president and football icon called on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and other relevant authorities to urgently review the decision.
“I call on the Court of Arbitration for Sport and other relevant authorities to move decisively so that this travesty does not stand,” he said.
Denial of Alleged Support for CAF Decision
Weah also dismissed circulating social media claims suggesting he supported CAF’s ruling, describing them as false.
“All those circulating my image and attaching same to such fallacious statements are advised to refrain,” he said.
Wider Implications for African Football
The controversy surrounding the AFCON 2025 final is rapidly becoming one of the most significant governance disputes in African football in recent years. Analysts warn that the outcome could have long-term implications for how disciplinary decisions are handled across CAF competitions.
With calls mounting for independent arbitration, attention now turns to whether CAS will intervene—and whether Senegal could yet have a path to reclaiming the title on legal grounds.
