Clarification on the Alleged CAS Decision about the Africa Cup of Nations Final
Recently, social media was rife with claims regarding a supposed ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which allegedly stated that Senegal had won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 against Morocco. These rumors, particularly proliferated by Algerian activists, have sparked confusion and concern among football fans and stakeholders alike. However, a reliable source from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation vehemently denied the authenticity of this document, asserting that no such verdict has been received from CAS.
In a brief statement to Hespress, lawyer Mourad Ajouti emphasized that the document circulating widely on social media platforms is nothing more than a baseless rumor. This document purportedly contains details about the acceptance of Senegal's appeal, the annulment of a previous decision by the relevant authority, and the confirmation of Senegal's championship title, along with statements indicating that the ruling is final and binding, as per Article R58 of the Sports Arbitration Code.
However, it is crucial to note that as of today, the official CAS website has not published any ruling pertaining to the AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal. In March, the Appeals Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced that the Senegalese national team had forfeited the final match of the AFCON 2025 tournament due to their withdrawal, which led to a decision awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory.
This ruling came after the Royal Moroccan Football Federation's appeal regarding the application of Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations was accepted, resulting in the cancellation of a prior decision from the CAF Disciplinary Committee. The committee determined that Senegal's actions constituted violations of these articles, thereby confirming Morocco's official win after Senegal's withdrawal from the AFCON final, while also rejecting all other claims presented.
In addition to this, the Appeals Committee issued decisions regarding several other infractions that occurred during the match. The suspension of player Ismail Sabiri was modified to a two-match ban, with one match suspended, and the previously imposed $100,000 fine was rescinded. Furthermore, the financial penalty against the Moroccan Football Federation for the conduct of ball collectors was reduced to $50,000, affirming the federation's responsibility for this behavior.
Simultaneously, the $100,000 fine imposed on the Moroccan Federation for entering the VAR review area was upheld, while the fine related to the laser incident was lowered to $10,000. All other related claims regarding these events were dismissed.
As reported by hespress.com.
