HIBAPRESS
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the launch of a new package of reforms that includes a review of its basic systems and organizational regulations, with the aim of enhancing confidence in the refereeing system and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, in addition to strengthening the independence and effectiveness of its judicial bodies.
These reforms aim to raise the level of transparency and credibility within the federation, especially at the level of referees, VAR operators, and disciplinary and appeals committees, within the framework of CAF's endeavor to avoid a repeat of the events that accompanied the final of the 2025 African Cup of Nations in Morocco. CAF confirmed in its statement that the performance of referees and VAR technology during the 2023 edition in Côte d'Ivoire received widespread praise continentally and internationally, considering that the goal of the new amendments is to restore the same level of confidence and recognition. In this context, CAF will continue to rely on the appointment of highly qualified African judges and lawyers within the Disciplinary and Appeals Committees, based on the nominations of the 54 member federations and regional parties, with an emphasis on the independence and complete neutrality of these bodies. For his part, the President of CAF, Patrice Motsepe, explained that the ongoing reforms include a comprehensive update of the legal and regulatory system, in line with the best international practices in football governance, whether inside or outside the field. He also confirmed that CAF is working in coordination with the International Federation of Football (FIFA) in order to develop the training of referees, VAR operators, and match observers, and raise their efficiency to the highest global standards, in addition to pushing towards more professionalism in refereeing and ensuring appropriate compensation for those working in this field. Motsepe stressed that the policy of "zero tolerance" towards corruption and misconduct remains a constant option within the institution, indicating that the principles of justice and equal opportunities among all member federations are non-negotiable. At the conclusion of the statement, CAF clarified that the file of events related to the final of the 2025 African Cup of Nations is still under study by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS), while the organization continues to focus on completing its ongoing continental competitions, in addition to supporting the African teams qualified for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
