All eyes will be on Lausanne, Switzerland, tomorrow as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) begins hearings regarding the controversial AFCON 2025 final between Morocco and Senegal. The case remains open months after the match, which was marred by contentious events that have sparked debates and disputes.
This session holds significant importance for both parties involved, particularly as the Senegalese Football Federation has appealed against the decision made by the CAF Appeals Committee, which stripped Senegal of the championship title and awarded the victory to Morocco, effective from March 2026.
Three months after the AFCON final took place in Rabat, the CAF Appeals Committee declared Senegal to be withdrawn from the final match, citing Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations, and officially recognized Morocco's victory with a score of 3-0.
What Happened in the Final on January 18?
The AFCON final, held on January 18 at the Rabat stadium, ended in chaos when several Senegalese players temporarily left the pitch in protest of a referee's decision. The turmoil erupted after a Senegalese goal was disallowed, followed by a last-minute penalty awarded to Morocco during stoppage time of the second half, which led to widespread protests and disorder on the field.
Confusion ensued for approximately 15 minutes before the Senegalese players returned to the field, while the chaos also spread to the stands, with some Senegalese fans throwing objects and attempting to storm the pitch. Amidst this tumult, Moroccan player Ibrahim Diaz missed the penalty that triggered the uproar, and ultimately, Bamba Dieng secured the victory for Senegal by scoring a decisive goal in extra time.
Who Will Oversee the CAS Hearing?
Given the significance of the matter, CAS has appointed three arbitrators to preside over the case. The session will be led by French arbitrator Professor Gérald Simon, assisted by Italian professors Luigi Fumagalli and Ulrich Haas. All proceedings are agreed to be conducted in French.
The hearing will commence at 09:30 AM Swiss time (10:30 AM Mecca time, 07:30 AM Rabat time) and is expected to last several hours, though it is unlikely to conclude before 4 PM Swiss time (05:00 PM Mecca time, 02:00 PM Rabat time), depending on the discussions. However, a decision will not be rendered on the same day; CAS has indicated that a resolution could take several days or even weeks to finalize. Proceedings will be held behind closed doors, with participants officially prohibited from disclosing details of the discussions. The only public statement anticipated will be from the CAS Director-General, who will announce the commencement of the session, while all parties are hoping for a swift resolution.
The case involves three main parties: the Senegalese Football Federation, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The Senegalese Federation is the party that sought arbitration at CAS to challenge the CAF Appeals Committee's ruling, but tomorrow's session is not the beginning of the case; rather, it follows a long period of correspondence and legal memorandums exchanged among the parties.
In preparation for the session, the Moroccan Football Federation has entrusted the case to a team of local and international lawyers. Reports indicate that the atmosphere within the Moroccan Federation has shifted, with less emphasis on the importance of the session compared to the initial aftermath of the final. The legal team representing Morocco has compiled a substantial dossier of documents and arguments to be presented during the hearing, amidst expectations of vigorous discussions between the parties. Nonetheless, the general sentiment in Morocco is to approach the CAS session without treating it as an extraordinary event.
Conversely, the Senegalese Football Federation has been active in the media in the initial weeks following the CAF disciplinary committee's decision. Officials conducted interviews and held major press conferences in Dakar and Paris, aiming to highlight their objections to the Appeals Committee's ruling. However, after weeks of intense media presence, the legal team appointed by the Senegalese Federation took over the case, focusing on the legal aspects to overturn the March ruling. Since then, Senegalese officials have refrained from publicly discussing the case, characterizing CAF's decision as "administrative theft," while they temporarily retained the AFCON 2025 trophy, a move seen as an attempt to pressure CAF.
CAS holds several options regarding this case. It could uphold the CAF Appeals Committee's decision, thereby confirming Morocco's AFCON 2025 championship title. Alternatively, the court may annul the March ruling, either awarding the title to Senegal, returning the matter to the previous authority for reconsideration, or issuing another decision deemed appropriate based on the circumstances surrounding the match. CAS possesses full authority to review the case.
If either party is dissatisfied with CAS's ruling, they may appeal to the Swiss Federal Court, the highest judicial authority in Switzerland. However, the Federal Court's powers to overturn CAS decisions are limited to specific circumstances, including issues related to the appointment of arbitrators or improper formation of the arbitration panel, or if the panel exceeded its authority or failed to consider an aspect, or violated the principle of equality between parties or their right to be heard within a framework that respects the principle of confrontation, or if the ruling contradicts public order.
One of the crucial focal points of this case appears to be the referee's decision during the final, according to a report from RMC Sport. Many observers and experts familiar with CAS's workings believe that the Congolese referee's decision during the final match is a key element in the case. The referee allowed play to resume amid the tumultuous events of the match before blowing the final whistle and confirming the match's result. In effect, the match result was officially recognized by the referee despite the turmoil surrounding the final minutes. This point is expected to occupy a significant portion of the discussions during the hearing, especially regarding the integrity of the match and the legal implications of the decisions made on the field. After tomorrow's session, the question that both parties are eagerly awaiting will remain unanswered until the final ruling is issued: who is the legitimate champion of AFCON 2025, Morocco or Senegal?
As reported by kooora.com.
