The legal battle surrounding the Africa Cup 2025 title is intensifying, particularly following Senegal's official appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). However, experts suggest that Senegal faces an uphill struggle in overturning the decision made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which has been deemed highly unlikely to be reversed.
On March 17, the CAF declared Morocco the African champions after it was determined that Senegal had violated regulations during the final match. This ruling was rooted in Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament rules, which stipulate that a team that leaves the field or refuses to play without the referee's permission will incur a penalty of a 0-3 loss and be 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 rules have been correctly applied. He emphasized that the legal basis for this case is quite clear, although some aspects may still be contentious.
Senegal may argue that the intent behind the rules is to penalize teams for refusing to play, despite the possibility of finishing the final match. Alternatively, they could challenge the definition of a “team,” given that three players remained on the field. However, according to IFAB regulations, a team needs at least seven players to continue play, making this argument less viable.
Another noteworthy aspect is that the CAF's decision-making process took up to two months after the final match. Bizzini pointed out that while the regulations do not specify a concrete timeframe for adjudication, they do allow for a maximum investigation period of six months. Given the case's complexity, this delay is considered reasonable.
The prospect of a replay of the final match is nearly non-existent. The current CAF regulations clearly stipulate a 0-3 loss as the penalty, rather than allowing for a rematch.
If the CAS confirms the ruling, Senegal would be required to return the trophy and exchange medals with Morocco. While such occurrences are rare, they align with legal principles when the original result is annulled.
This incident could set a significant precedent in African football law, necessitating that teams adhere strictly to rules regarding leaving the field, regardless of whether the match can continue. Furthermore, the CAF may consider amending regulations to clarify similar situations in the future.
As reported by vietnam.vn.
