The Confederation of African Football has announced plans to review its regulations and improve Video Assistant Referee (VAR) protocols following contentious scenes at the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe made the statement as part of a broader commitment to safeguard the integrity and reputation of African football.
Motsepe described the incidents during and after the tournament’s final, which saw heightened tensions after a late VAR-recommended penalty decision, as “unacceptable” and damaging to the image of the continent’s premier football competition.
He said CAF has taken the disciplinary outcomes seriously and respects the decisions made by its judicial bodies.
To address these issues, Motsepe has called an extraordinary meeting of the CAF Executive Committee, the organization’s highest decision-making body outside of the Annual General Assembly, to examine and update CAF regulations and the Disciplinary Code.
The aim is to ensure the confederation’s judicial bodies are better empowered to impose effective and deterrent sanctions for serious breaches of CAF statutes and conduct standards.
“We are determined to allocate additional financial and expert technical resources” to improve the quality, impartiality and global competitiveness of referees, VAR operators and match commissioners across CAF competitions, he said.
This builds on reforms introduced during his presidency, including making the CAF Referees Committee more independent and representative of member associations.
The controversial AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco was marred by several disciplinary breaches, including protests over officiating decisions.
CAF Disciplinary Board has since handed out multiple suspensions and heavy fines to both national teams’ officials and players, alongside fines for supporter and team conduct.
Motsepe emphasized that CAF remains committed to upholding fair play and boosting the global reputation of African football.
“It is very important that African referees, VAR operators and match commissioners are perceived, respected and acknowledged as being impartial, fair and world class,” he said.
CAF’s review of regulations and potential changes are expected to be finalised in the coming weeks as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen African football governance and competitive standards.
