The president of African soccer鈥檚 governing body has defended its integrity and impartiality after Senegal鈥檚 government called for an international investigation into 鈥渟uspected corruption鈥� at the organization after it stripped the country of its Africa Cup of Nations title.
Patrice Motsepe, the president of the Confederation of African Football, sought Wednesday to explain the decision made by its appeals board on Tuesday that in January by walking off the field, turning its 1-0 win in extra time into a 3-0 default win for host nation Morocco.
鈥淭he CAF disciplinary board took one decision. The CAF appeals board took a totally different position. And I鈥檓 told that Senegal is going to appeal, which is very important,鈥� Motsepe said in a . 鈥淲e will adhere and respect the decision that鈥檚 taken at the highest level.鈥�
Motsepe said that CAF鈥檚 disciplinary and appeals board members are chosen from names proposed by each of its 54 member associations.
鈥淚f you look at the composition of those bodies, they reflect some of the most respected lawyers and judges on the continent,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese are people who have integrity and have a track record. … the independence is reflected by the decisions that were taken by the two bodies.鈥�
Contrasting decisions
In January, CAF鈥檚 disciplinary board against the Senegalese and Moroccan federations together. It issued suspensions against the Senegal coach and several players. But it did not interfere with the outcome of the final.
CAF鈥檚 appeals board on Tuesday ruled that Senegal forfeited the Jan. 18 final by leaving the field of play without the referee鈥檚 authorization, and that Morocco should consequently be awarded a 3-0 win.
Most of the Senegal team left for almost 10 minutes while Senegal fans battled stewards behind one of the goals in protest against a controversial penalty call for Morocco after Senegal had a goal ruled out. The players returned, Morocco missed the penalty, and .
CAF’s legacy
鈥淲hat happened in that final match is it undermines the good work that CAF has done over many, many years to ensure that there鈥檚 integrity, that there is respect, that there鈥檚 ethics, that there鈥檚 governance, as well as credibility in the results of our football matches,鈥� said Motsepe, who said the incidents in the final had exposed the work CAF was doing to address suspicion and distrust.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a legacy issue. When I became president one of the major concerns was the impartiality, the independence, and the respect of referees and match commissioners, and a lot of good, good work has been done,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat there continues to be suspicions because it鈥檚 a legacy issue, it鈥檚 something that has been there for many, many years and we consistently deal with that because that鈥檚 critically important.鈥�
Senegal appeals
The Senegalese soccer federation said in Lausanne, Switzerland, and the Senegalese government slammed what it called a 鈥渕anifestly erroneous interpretation of the regulations, leading to a grossly illegal and deeply unjust decision.鈥�
Motsepe defended CAF against perceptions of favoritism toward Morocco, which is a 2030 World Cup co-host and has invested heavily to .
鈥淣ot a single country in Africa will be treated in a manner that is more preferential, or more advantageous, or more favorable than any other country on the African continent,鈥� Morsepe said. 鈥淲e take what has happened at the final match in Morocco 鈥� we take it very, very seriously.鈥�
He said CAF had already taken steps to address deficiencies.
鈥淲e have very high standards that we set for ourselves. It is important for us that ordinary football supporters and spectators in every one of the 54 countries in Africa, in their judgment 鈥� not in CAF鈥檚 judgment, not in my judgment 鈥� regard the decisions of our judicial bodies as fair,鈥� Motsepe said.
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