The ongoing saga between Morocco and Senegal continues as both teams prepare to revisit their contentious match at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. Nearly nine months after the dramatic finale of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 held in Rabat, the federations representing these two nations are set to defend their claims to the African championship title. On January 18, Senegal emerged victorious, defeating Morocco 1-0 after extra time, thanks to a goal from Pape Gueye. However, the match was marred by chaos, as a significant number of Senegalese players left the field in protest against a penalty awarded to Morocco in stoppage time, only to return approximately fifteen minutes later.
On March 17, the situation took a new turn when the Moroccan federation appealed the decision, leading an appeal jury from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to declare Senegal's victory as a forfeit, imposing a 3-0 loss due to the players' premature exit from the match without the referee's permission, as stipulated in articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations. In response, Senegal lodged an appeal at the Swiss tribunal, accusing the CAF of corruption and calling for an international investigation into the dismissal of Djiboutian legal expert Yassin Osman Robleh, who was responsible for upholding the integrity of CAF's processes since 2020.
The entire African continent now eagerly awaits the verdict from the CAS, as the tribunal has acknowledged the significant media attention surrounding the upcoming hearing. A note was issued outlining the proceedings for the day, emphasizing the importance of the event.
What to Expect from the Hearing?
Scheduled for October 8 at 9:30 AM Paris time, the hearing will not be open to the public, as neither party requested a public session. Media representatives will have the opportunity to cover the event from outside the CAS headquarters. Legal representatives from both the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) will present their respective cases, with the CAF also represented by its legal counsel.
It is anticipated that the hearing will conclude in the afternoon, at which point the arbitration panel will begin deliberations. The CAS has indicated that it cannot provide a timeline for when a final decision will be rendered, but the outcome will be published on the tribunal's website.
Who Will Judge the Case?
The case will be examined by a panel of three judges: French judge Gérald Simon, Italian judge Luigi Fumagalli, and German judge Ulrich Haas. Renowned in the field of sports law, Simon will preside over the tribunal, guiding the discussions but not making unilateral decisions. The judges will be faced with a unique case as it is unprecedented for a team to have a title stripped after it has been awarded on the field and confirmed by the referee, as noted by Thibault Ulrich, a sports law researcher at the University of Lausanne.
Morocco's argument centers around a literal interpretation and application of the CAF regulations, asserting that the rules dictate that a team leaving the field without the referee's authorization is to be deemed the loser by a score of 3-0. The regulations do not specify a minimum duration for interruptions or acceptable reasons for leaving the field, a point Morocco emphasized during the appeal. Conversely, Senegal is expected to invoke the 'fifth law of the game' established by the International Board, which states that the referee's decisions regarding play-related facts are final, including the validation of a goal and the match result. This principle is further reinforced by the longstanding 'doctrine of the playing field' upheld by CAS jurisprudence, which maintains that unless corruption or bad faith is proven, the referee's decisions cannot be challenged.
As both sides prepare to make their cases, the implications of the tribunal's decision could resonate far beyond this match, potentially setting a precedent for future competitions.
As reported by france24.com.
