Morocco has announced plans to appeal disciplinary rulings issued by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following disorder at the conclusion of a recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, escalating tensions between national football authorities and the continental governing body.
In a statement released on Monday, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said it considers CAF’s decisions disproportionate and procedurally flawed, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the post-match unrest were not fully or fairly assessed.
The controversial AFCON final, which drew millions of viewers across Africa, was marred by crowd disturbances, pitch invasions, and confrontations involving security personnel after the final whistle. CAF’s disciplinary committee subsequently issued sanctions that reportedly included fines and potential suspensions, citing failures in crowd control and match organization.
CAF described the incident as a serious breach of competition regulations, emphasizing its zero-tolerance stance on disorder at major tournaments.
Moroccan football officials argue that responsibility for the chaos was shared, pointing to lapses in stadium security management and external factors beyond the control of the national federation.
“The conclusions reached by CAF do not accurately reflect what transpired on the ground,” an FRMF official said. “Morocco will exercise its right to appeal to ensure that facts, context, and proportionality are properly considered.”
The federation added that it cooperated fully with CAF during the investigation and had already submitted documentation and video evidence it believes contradicts key elements of the ruling.
While CAF’s appeals process is expected to be the first step, sports law experts note that the matter could ultimately be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if an internal review does not lead to a reversal or reduction of sanctions.
Such a move would mirror past disputes between CAF and national federations, some of which have exposed long-running tensions over governance, transparency, and disciplinary consistency within African football.
The appeal comes at a sensitive time for CAF as it seeks to project professionalism and organisational credibility ahead of future continental tournaments. Any prolonged legal battle risks renewed scrutiny of CAF’s disciplinary processes and crowd management standards at major events.
For Morocco, the stakes are both sporting and reputational. The country has invested heavily in football infrastructure and international hosting ambitions, positioning itself as a leading hub for African and global sporting events.
CAF has yet to formally respond to Morocco’s intention to appeal. Under CAF statutes, appeals must be lodged within a specified timeframe, after which an appellate body will review the disciplinary panel’s findings.
Until then, the sanctions remain in force, though enforcement may be suspended depending on procedural rules.
As the dispute unfolds, it is expected to reignite debate about accountability, crowd control, and governance standards in African football, issues that continue to shadow the continent’s biggest competitions despite growing global attention and investment.
