Former Liberia President and football icon, George Weah, has strongly criticized the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to withdraw the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title from Senegal and award it to Morocco.
In a statement issued on March 18, Weah argued that the decision undermines the fundamental principles of football, particularly the authority of referees and the sanctity of results decided on the pitch.
“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,” Weah stated.
Citing the globally recognized FIFA Laws of the Game, Weah emphasized that referees hold ultimate authority during matches, referencing Law 5 which affirms that decisions on facts connected with play are final.
According to him, the AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco was completed under the supervision and authority of the match referee, despite a temporary walk-off incident involving the Senegalese team.
“The referee allowed the match to continue after the walk-off by Senegal, and the game was completed, including extra time, with a result obtained on the field of play,” he said.
Weah further noted that the referee’s official report described the incident as a stoppage rather than a forfeiture and recommended only appropriate sanctions for infractions committed during the match.
The football legend expressed concern that CAF’s post-match ruling effectively overrides on-field decisions, setting what he described as a dangerous precedent for the sport.
“Football must be decided on the pitch, not re-decided after the final whistle,” Weah declared.
He warned that allowing administrative bodies to overturn completed match results could erode trust in football governance across Africa.
“There is no sporting justification to nullify a match that was completed in accordance with the referee’s authority… otherwise the beautiful game will head down a slippery slope where committee room officials… override referees on-field decisions.”
Weah called on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and other relevant authorities to urgently review the matter and ensure justice is served.
“I call on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and other relevant authorities to move decisively so that this travesty does not stand,” he urged.
The former Ballon d’Or winner also used the opportunity to debunk circulating social media claims suggesting he supports CAF’s decision against Senegal.
“Social media posts… claiming that I support the decision… is blatantly false,” Weah clarified, warning those spreading such information to desist.
CAF recently ruled that Senegal forfeited the AFCON 2025 final following a successful appeal by Morocco, a decision that has sparked widespread debate within the African football community.
Weah, Africa’s only Ballon d’Or winner (1995) and a three-time African Footballer of the Year, joins a growing list of prominent voices questioning the decision and its implications for the credibility of African football governance.
