By Sabiu Abdullahi
Former Arsenal striker and ex-Liberian President, George Weah, has faulted the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over its decision to withdraw the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title from Senegal and award it to Morocco.
In a statement dated March 18, 2026, Weah argued that the decision contradicts established football rules. He stressed that referees hold ultimate authority during matches and that outcomes decided on the pitch should remain valid.
“In football, the Laws of the Game are clear: the referee on the pitch is the final authority on decisions made during the match. Once play is allowed to continue and the match is completed, the result obtained on the field must stand,” he said.
Weah also cited CAF regulations and FIFA rules to support his position. According to him, both frameworks recognise the referee’s control over match proceedings.
“Under the applicable rules of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), match officials have full authority during the game,” he added.
Quoting the Laws of the Game, he said:
“The referee has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which he has been appointed, and his decisions on facts connected with play are final.”
Weah referred to the AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco. He explained that the referee allowed play to continue after Senegal’s walk-off. The match went on to extra time and produced a result on the field.
He noted that the referee’s post-match report recorded a stoppage rather than a forfeiture. The report also recommended sanctions for incidents during the game.
Based on this, Weah maintained that CAF’s later ruling should not override the referee’s authority.
“For this reason, the subsequent decision by CAF committee, taken after the match had already been concluded, should not override the authority exercised by the referee during the game in keeping with the Laws of the Game – Law 5,” he said.
He warned against allowing off-field decisions to determine results after matches have ended.
“Football must be decided on the pitch, not re-decided after the final whistle,” he stated.
Weah further argued that there was no sporting basis to cancel a completed match. He cautioned that such actions could weaken trust in football governance.
“There is therefore no sporting justification to nullify a match that was completed in accordance with the referee’s authority and the Laws of the Game otherwise the beautiful game will head down a slippery slope where committee room officials and not match officials will be making post match rulings to override referees on-field decisions like penalties, offside and red cards.
Where will it end?”
The former Ballon d’Or winner said the decision had damaged the image of African football.
“This decision has further scarred and blemished African football, undermining confidence in the fairness, consistency, and integrity of football on the continent,” he said.
He called on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and other relevant bodies to take action.
“I call on the court of Arbitration for Sports(CAS) and other relevant authorities to move decisively so that this travesty does not stand.”
Weah also denied claims circulating on social media that he supported CAF’s disciplinary action against Senegal.
“I also want to use this opportunity to clarify that social media posts widely circulating claiming that I support the decision by CAF Disciplinary Committee against Senegal is blatantly false.
All those circulating my image and attaching same to such fallacious statements are advised to refrain.”
