…Urges CAS To Overturn Verdict
Former Liberian President and African football legend, George Weah, has faulted the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and award it to the hosts, Morocco.
In a statement yesterday, Weah slammed the move, insisting that football matches must be decided on the pitch.
Weah’s comments come as he clarified that social media posts claiming he supported CAF’s ruling are “blatantly false.”
Recall that CAF recently stripped the Teranga Lions of the 2025 AFCON title, awarding it to the Atlas Lions following a ruling by the body’s Appeal Board.
The decision followed a petition by Morocco, which argued that Senegal’s conduct during a chaotic final constituted a forfeit.
Consequently, the board nullified the original 1-0 result and awarded Morocco a 3-0 walkover win, declaring the host nation the new continental champions.
While reacting to the decision, Weah—the only African to win the Ballon d’Or (1995) and a three-time African Player of the Year (1989, 1994, 1995)—rejected the verdict.
“In football, the laws of the game are clear: the referee on the pitch is the final authority,” Weah stated. “Once play is allowed to continue and the match is completed, the result obtained on the field must stand.”
The former AC Milan striker warned that overriding on-field results sets a dangerous precedent for the sport.
“There’s no sporting justification to nullify a match that was completed in accordance with the referee’s authority,” he continued. “Otherwise, the beautiful game will head down a slippery slope where committee room officials, not match officials, make post-match rulings to override on-field decisions like penalties, offsides, and red cards.”
Weah argued that the Appeals Board’s decision has “scarred and blemished” African football, undermining the continent’s reputation for fairness and integrity.
“I call on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and other relevant authorities to move decisively so that this travesty does not stand,” he emphasised.
Weah also addressed the misinformation regarding his stance, advising those circulating “fallacious statements” and using his image to push false narratives to refrain immediately.
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