Senegal Faces Uphill Battle in Africa Cup 2025 Title Dispute
The legal conflict surrounding Senegal's title at the Africa Cup 2025 is intensifying as the country has officially escalated the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). However, experts are expressing skepticism regarding Senegal's likelihood of overturning the decision made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). On March 17, the CAF designated Morocco as the African champion after determining that Senegal had violated the competition rules during the final match. This ruling was based on Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations, which stipulate that a team that leaves the field or refuses to play without the referee's consent is penalized with a 0-3 loss and disqualified from the tournament.
Romain Bizzini, a lawyer with extensive experience in disputes involving FIFA, CAF, and CAS, believes that the CAS is likely to uphold the CAF's decision provided that the regulations were correctly applied. He emphasized that the legal foundation of this case is quite clear, although some points may still be open to debate. Senegal might argue that the intent of the rules is to punish refusal to play, even if the final match could have continued. Alternatively, they could question the definition of a 'team' since three players remained on the field. However, according to IFAB rules, a team must have at least seven players for a match to proceed, which weakens this argument significantly.
Implications and Future Precedents in African Football
Another important aspect of the situation is that the CAF's decision-making process lasted up to two months following the last game. According to Bizzini, the regulations do not specify a concrete timeframe for the judgment, apart from a maximum investigation period of six months. Given the complexity of the case, this delay is considered appropriate. The possibility of a replay of the final is virtually non-existent, as the current CAF regulations clearly stipulate a 0-3 loss as the penalty, rather than a rematch.
If the CAS affirms the ruling, Senegal would be required to return the trophy and exchange medals with Morocco. Although such a scenario is rare, it aligns with legal principles when the original result is annulled. This incident could establish a significant precedent in African football law, compelling teams to adhere strictly to the rules regarding leaving the field, regardless of whether the game continues. Furthermore, the CAF might consider a rule change to clarify similar situations in the future.
As reported by znews.vn.
As reported by vietnam.vn.
