Former international football star and ex-Liberian president George Manneh Weah has criticised a decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip Senegal of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, warning it could undermine confidence in the sport across the continent.
In a strongly worded statement, Weah said football matches must be decided by events on the pitch rather than by administrative rulings made after the final whistle. The former Ballon d’Or winner argued that the authority of match officials should remain paramount once a game has been completed.
“The referee on the pitch is the final authority on decisions made during the match. Once play is allowed to continue and the match is completed, the result obtained on the field must stand,” he said.
Weah pointed to the alignment between CAF regulations and the Laws of the Game established by FIFA, specifically referencing Law 5, which grants referees full authority over decisions taken during matches. He stressed that these rules exist to ensure consistency and fairness in football competitions worldwide.
The controversy stems from the Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco, during which play briefly halted after Senegal’s players walked off the pitch. However, the referee allowed the match to resume, and it was completed, including extra time.
According to Weah, the referee’s official report following the game recorded the incident as a stoppage rather than a forfeiture and recommended that any breaches be addressed through sanctions rather than altering the match outcome.
“The subsequent decision by CAF committee, taken after the match had already been concluded, should not override the authority exercised by the referee during the game,” Weah said. “Football must be decided on the pitch, not re-decided after the final whistle.”
He warned that allowing governing bodies to overturn results after matches have ended could create a “dangerous precedent”, opening the door for off-field officials to revisit and potentially reverse decisions on key moments such as penalties, offsides or dismissals.
Weah also described the ruling as damaging to the credibility of African football, suggesting it could erode trust among players, fans and stakeholders. He called on the Court of Arbitration for Sport and other relevant authorities to intervene and provide clarity on the matter.
Beyond his criticism of the decision itself, Weah addressed what he described as false claims circulating online. He rejected suggestions that he supported CAF’s ruling, saying such reports were “blatantly false” and urging the public not to associate his name with them.
