NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – Former World Player of the Year George Manneh Weah has delivered a scathing assessment of the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and award it to Morocco, warning that the move threatens the very foundation of football governance on the continent.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
In a strongly worded statement issued March 18, 2026, the Liberian football icon argued that CAF’s ruling contradicts the universally accepted Laws of the Game, particularly the authority granted to referees during matches.
Referee’s Decision Should Be Final
Weah grounded his argument in the rules established by FIFA, specifically Law 5 of the Laws of the Game, which states that the referee has full authority to enforce the rules and that decisions related to facts of play are final.
According to him, the AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco was completed under the referee’s supervision, even after a reported walk-off by the Senegalese side.
The match proceeded through extra time and produced a result on the field.
Crucially, Weah pointed out that the referee’s post-match report categorized the incident as a stoppage—not a forfeiture—and recommended disciplinary action for infractions rather than overturning the outcome.
Dangerous Precedent for Football
Weah warned that CAF’s decision to later nullify the result and reassign the title undermines the authority of match officials and risks setting a dangerous precedent.
“Football must be decided on the pitch, not re-decided after the final whistle,” he emphasized, cautioning that allowing administrative bodies to override referees could open the door to post-match reviews of key decisions such as penalties, offsides, and red cards.
He described the ruling as lacking any “sporting justification” and questioned how far such interventions could go if left unchecked.
Call for CAS Intervention
The former Ballon d’Or winner called on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to urgently intervene and review the matter, stressing that failure to act would further damage confidence in African football.
Weah labeled the decision a “travesty,” saying it has “scarred and blemished” the image of the game across the continent while undermining trust in fairness, consistency, and integrity.
Denies Backing CAF Decision
Addressing viral claims on social media, Weah firmly rejected assertions that he supports CAF’s disciplinary action against Senegal.
He described such reports as “blatantly false” and cautioned against the circulation of misleading statements using his name and image.
The controversy surrounding the AFCON 2025 final continues to generate widespread debate among fans, analysts, and football authorities, with increasing calls for
