African football legend and Ballon d’Or (1995), and former Liberian President George Weah has strongly criticized the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for its controversial decision to withdraw the AFCON 2025 title from Senegal and award it to Morocco.
In a strongly worded statement released on March 18, Weah argued that the decision undermines the fundamental principles of football, insisting that matches must be decided on the pitch—not in boardrooms.
“Referee’s Authority Must Stand”
Weah emphasized that under the FIFA Laws of the Game, particularly Law 5, the referee holds final authority over match decisions.
“Once play is allowed to continue and the match is completed, the result obtained on the field must stand,” Weah stated.
He pointed out that during the AFCON 2025 final, the referee allowed the match between Senegal and Morocco to continue after Senegal’s walk-off, with the game ultimately reaching completion, including extra time.
According to Weah, the referee’s post-match report classified the incident as a stoppage—not a forfeiture—and recommended appropriate sanctions for infractions, rather than nullifying the result.
CAF Decision Questioned
Weah criticized CAF’s disciplinary committee for overturning the match outcome after its conclusion, arguing that such actions set a dangerous precedent.
“Football must be decided on the pitch, not re-decided after the final whistle,” he said.
He warned that allowing post-match rulings to override referees could lead to a slippery slope where decisions like penalties, offsides, and red cards are revisited after matches—undermining the integrity of the game.
Call for Arbitration
The former Ballon d’Or winner has now called on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and other relevant authorities to intervene and review the matter.
“There is no sporting justification to nullify a match that was completed in accordance with the Laws of the Game,” Weah added.
Denies Viral Social Media Claims
Weah also dismissed circulating social media posts claiming he supports CAF’s decision, terming them false and misleading.
“All those circulating my image and attaching it to such fallacious statements are advised to refrain,” he clarified.
Impact on African Football
Weah concluded by warning that the decision has “scarred and blemished” African football, potentially eroding trust in fairness, consistency, and governance across the continent.
