The Misleading Document Circulating on Social Media
The anticipation surrounding the decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is at an all-time high, particularly given the unprecedented situation unfolding in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN). Recently, a document purporting to be an official ruling from the CAS claiming that Senegal has been declared the winner of the CAN 2025 following the annulment of the Confederation of African Football (CAF)'s decision to award the title to Morocco has been circulating widely across social media platforms. However, upon closer inspection, multiple factors indicate that this document is indeed a forgery.
Identifying the Flaws in the Alleged Ruling
Within the last 24 hours, an image that presents itself as an official decision from the CAS has been shared numerous times online. The document asserts that the appeal filed by the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has been accepted, that the CAF's decision granting victory to Morocco has been overturned, and that Senegal has been officially declared the winner of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025. Yet, a thorough examination reveals several inconsistencies in both the content and format of the document, proving that it does not represent an authentic CAS ruling.
One of the first discrepancies that raises eyebrows pertains to the case reference number; the viral document cites CAS reference number 2026/A/10857, whereas the CAS has officially recorded the appeal submitted by the FSF under the reference number CAS 2026/A/12295, as confirmed by a statement released by the arbitration tribunal. Furthermore, the document misleadingly suggests that the CAS has already rendered a verdict in this matter. Had the CAS indeed annulled the CAF's decision and stripped Morocco of the continental title, such a ruling would have been immediately communicated through official channels, followed by announcements from the CAF and relevant federations. Yet, no such announcement has been made.
Moreover, the content of this alleged ruling raises further questions, as decisions issued by the CAS are typically far more detailed. They usually include a comprehensive account of the facts, the arguments from all parties involved, the arbitrators' analysis, and the legal reasoning leading to the verdict. The document currently circulating is limited to a single page, lacking any substantive explanation, a format that does not align with the typical structure of official decisions published by the Court of Arbitration.
Additionally, the presence of both English and Arabic versions on the same page, along with formatting that deviates from the official rulings of the institution, further casts doubt on its authenticity. While the document does feature the logo, seal, and signatures, these graphical elements can be easily reproduced and do not, in themselves, guarantee the document's legitimacy. As of now, no decision from the Court of Arbitration regarding the appeal filed by the FSF has been released. In the absence of any official communication from the tribunal, the document circulating on social media is confirmed to be false.
As reported by sport.le360.ma.
