Cairo — THE Confédération Africaine de Soccer is about to make sweeping adjustments to its statutes and laws geared toward restoring confidence in refereeing, video assistant referees (VAR) and its judicial our bodies following controversies surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Ultimate.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe informed reporters in Cairo, Egypt on Sunday that the reforms are designed to make sure that the incidents witnessed through the match’s ultimate “don’t occur once more” and to strengthen governance, transparency and integrity throughout African soccer.
The transfer follows a chaotic AFCON 2025 ultimate in Morocco, the place a number of disputed VAR calls and officiating delays led to formal protests and a lingering sense of injustice amongst taking part nations.
Motsepe described the measures as “far-reaching,” emphasising that they’d improve belief in referees, VAR operators, match commissioners, and the organisation’s disciplinary and attraction constructions.
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“These adjustments will strengthen the respect, integrity and credibility of African referees and judicial our bodies,” Motsepe mentioned, including that CAF had sought in depth authorized recommendation from main African and worldwide soccer consultants to align its guidelines with international greatest practices.
The announcement comes amid ongoing proceedings on the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport associated to the AFCON 2025 ultimate, putting further scrutiny on CAF’s governance and decisionmaking processes.
CAF additionally reaffirmed its dedication to sustaining unbiased and neutral judicial our bodies, stating that members of its disciplinary and attraction boards would proceed to be chosen from extremely revered judges and authorized professionals nominated by its 54 member associations.
In a bid to enhance officiating requirements, CAF mentioned it will increase collaboration with FIFA to offer ongoing coaching for referees, VAR operators, and match officers. The organisation additionally signalled plans to professionalise refereeing in Africa and enhance compensation, a transfer seen as vital to enhancing efficiency and lowering the chance of misconduct.
“It is extremely necessary to handle the challenges in African soccer relating to the impartiality and independence of referees. African referees are as succesful as their counterparts worldwide. We’ll proceed to coach our referees, pay them effectively, and encourage them as they advance in professionalism, each in refereeing and in using VAR.”
The governing physique contrasted the controversy in Morocco with the extensively praised officiating on the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, underlining its dedication to regain that degree of credibility.
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Motsepe additional pressured CAF’s “zero tolerance” strategy to corruption and improper conduct, noting that latest governance enhancements had already strengthened confidence amongst sponsors and companions.
He additionally reiterated CAF’s dedication to treating all member associations equally, amid longstanding considerations in African soccer about favouritism and unequal affect.
Wanting forward, CAF mentioned it stays targeted on its ongoing competitions and on supporting African groups making ready for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing confidence that they are going to carry out strongly on the worldwide stage.
