George Weah rejects CAF ruling on AFCON final, urges CAS intervention

Former Liberia president and Ballon d’Or winner George Weah has strongly criticised CAF’s decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco, insisting the result on the pitch must stand.

In a statement dated March 18, Weah argued that the Laws of the Game clearly place authority in the hands of the referee, whose decisions during a match are final.

“In football, the referee on the pitch is the final authority,” Weah said. “Once play is allowed to continue, and the match is completed, the result obtained on the field must stand.”

He referenced Law 5 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, which grants referees full authority over match decisions, noting that CAF regulations align with these principles.

Weah pointed out that in the AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco, the referee allowed play to continue after the walk-off incident, with the match completed, including extra time, and a result recorded on the field.

He added that the referee’s post-match report identified the incident as a stoppage rather than a forfeiture, recommending appropriate sanctions for misconduct instead of overturning the result.

“For this reason, the subsequent decision by a CAF committee should not override the authority exercised by the referee during the game,” he stated.

Weah warned that such actions risk undermining the foundations of football.

“Football must be decided on the pitch, not re-decided after the final whistle,” he said. “Otherwise, the game will head down a slippery slope where committee decisions override referees on key incidents.”

The former African Footballer of the Year also expressed concern over the broader impact of the ruling, saying it has “scarred and blemished African football” and weakened confidence in fairness and consistency.

He called on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and other authorities to intervene and ensure the decision does not stand.

Weah also dismissed claims circulating on social media suggesting he supports CAF’s ruling, describing them as false and urging those responsible to desist.

The CAF Appeal Board’s decision has sparked widespread debate, with Weah becoming the latest high-profile figure to question the handling of one of the most controversial rulings in AFCON history.