Former CAF Disciplinary Chief says sanctions over AFCON final were inadequate

Raymond Hack, a former head of the Confederation of African Football’s disciplinary committee, has criticized CAF’s decisions over the chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal, saying the sanctions imposed were insufficient and disproportionate to the seriousness of the incidents that unfolded during and after the match.

Speaking in an interview with South Africa’s SABC television, Hack said CAF’s disciplinary body failed to take firm and fair action following events during the Jan. 18 final, which saw Senegalese players walk off the pitch in protest after a penalty was awarded to Morocco. The delay in resuming play, which lasted more than 14 minutes, damaged the image of the tournament at its climax, he said.

Hack, who has extensive experience in football disciplinary procedures, argued that responsibility lay primarily with Senegal’s head coach, who instructed his players to leave the field. He described the move as contrary to the spirit and principles of football, adding that the five-match suspension and financial fine imposed on the coach fell short of the harm caused to the competition.

“Such behavior cannot be addressed through fines alone,” Hack said, stressing that stronger administrative and disciplinary sanctions are needed to deter similar incidents in the future.

He pointed to past cases in world football to illustrate how governing bodies have responded decisively to serious misconduct, citing the lengthy suspension handed to Luis Suárez after the biting incident at the World Cup and sanctions imposed on Diego Maradona during the 2010 tournament. Those precedents, he said, show that football authorities do not tolerate actions that undermine the integrity of the game.

Hack said the disruptions during the AFCON final warranted far harsher penalties, potentially including long-term bans for those responsible for halting play and inflaming tensions among players and supporters.

Addressing Morocco’s appeal to have the match awarded in its favor following Senegal’s walkout, Hack said such a decision falls solely within the authority of the referee on the field at the time of the incident, not post-match disciplinary committees. He said this highlights ongoing challenges for CAF in interpreting and applying its regulations consistently and objectively.

Hack warned that CAF’s global credibility had been undermined by what he described as leniency in enforcing its rules, adding that the reputation of the governing body is invaluable, particularly given its role in setting an example for players, officials and young fans across the continent.

Although CAF imposed fines totaling more than $1 million on the Moroccan and Senegalese football federations, players, coaches and supporters, Hack said the true measure of CAF’s commitment to protecting the integrity of its competitions will be reflected in how discipline is enforced in future matches.

CAF has rejected Morocco’s protest over the final’s outcome, ruling that Senegal’s temporary withdrawal from the pitch did not justify awarding the match to Morocco. The decision has sparked widespread debate in Moroccan and African media over the application of disciplinary regulations in continental football.