CAF moves to restore trust with sweeping reforms to refereeing and governance
In a decisive bid to rebuild credibility and reinforce integrity across African football, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled a series of far-reaching reforms targeting its statutes and regulatory framework.
The governing body confirmed that the changes are designed to restore trust in match officiating particularly among referees and VAR operators while also strengthening confidence in its judicial structures, including the Disciplinary and Appeal Boards. The move follows controversial incidents during the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, which CAF is determined not to see repeated.
CAF’s renewed push comes in contrast to the widely praised officiating standards at AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023, a benchmark the organisation is eager to return to. Central to the reforms is a commitment to professionalism, improved training, and better remuneration for referees and VAR officials, aligning African football more closely with global best practices.
The body also reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining the independence and impartiality of its judicial organs. Members of the Disciplinary and Appeal Boards will continue to be selected from a pool of top legal minds across the continent, nominated by CAF’s 54 Member Associations and Zonal Unions, and appointed through its Executive Committee and General Assembly.
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe подчеркнул the importance of these reforms, describing them as critical to safeguarding the integrity and global standing of African football.
“CAF is implementing far-reaching changes that will strengthen trust in our referees, VAR operators, match commissioners, and judicial bodies,” Motsepe said. “The unacceptable incidents witnessed at the AFCON Morocco 2025 final must never happen again.”
He added that CAF has engaged leading African and international football legal experts to ensure its statutes reflect the highest global standards, both on and off the pitch. Collaboration with FIFA remains ongoing, particularly in the training and development of match officials to meet elite international levels.
Motsepe also reiterated CAF’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption and misconduct, noting that recent governance improvements have boosted confidence among sponsors and partners. He stressed that fairness across all Member Associations remains “non-negotiable,” with no room for preferential treatment.
While matters relating to the AFCON 2025 final are currently before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), CAF says its immediate focus is on ongoing continental competitions, including the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, as well as supporting African nations preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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