Former Ballon d'Or winner, George Weah, has publicly opposed the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) decision to withdraw the hosting rights for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from Senegal, awarding it to Morocco instead. Weah, an iconic figure in African football, expressed his disagreement based on the rules of the game and the authority of the referee on the field.
According to George Weah, the outcome of a match should be validated as soon as it is achieved on the field, in accordance with the laws of the game. He emphasizes that the referee is the final authority during the match and that their decisions must be respected. In his view, challenging a match after it has concluded disregards the referee's authority and the principles of fair play.
Weah relies on Law 5 of the Laws of the Game, which states that "the referee has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game" and that their decisions are final. He believes that this fundamental law must be respected to ensure the integrity of African football. He is therefore calling on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to take up the matter quickly to avoid what he considers an injustice.
The former President of Liberia also took the opportunity to deny information circulating on social media, portraying him as being in favor of the CAF decision. He called this information completely false and asked those who use his image to relay such comments to refrain from doing so.
The CAF's decision to award the organization of AFCON 2025 to Morocco rather than Senegal has sparked strong reactions in the African football world. Several voices have been raised to denounce a lack of transparency and respect for procedures. George Weah's intervention adds considerable weight to the challenge, given his status and influence in the field.
While awaiting a possible referral to CAS, the controversy surrounding the awarding of AFCON 2025 continues to fuel debate and highlights the political and economic issues underlying the organization of this major African football event. CAF has not yet officially reacted to George Weah's statements.
The governing body of African football justified its choice by infrastructure criteria and financial guarantees, but these arguments have not convinced all observers.
