Five hours of closed-door argument in Lausanne on Thursday launched the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s effort to decide who rightfully owns the Africa Cup of Nations title.
Senegal are challenging CAF’s March decision to strip them of the crown and hand it to Morocco. CAS general manager Matthieu Reeb acknowledged that fans on both sides have endured a long wait, and he cautioned that the hearing could run for “days or even weeks.”
Morocco’s delegation declined to speak to reporters. Senegal’s federation president, Abdoulaye Sow, voiced hope that sports law would prevail for the dignity and honour of Africa.
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Almost ten months ago, Pape Gueye’s extra-time goal gave Senegal victory over the hosts, but only after a chaotic finish to normal time. When Morocco won a late penalty, many Senegalese players marched off in protest. Nearly 20 minutes passed before they returned, and Brahim Diaz then failed to convert the kick.
Morocco took their grievance to CAF, which concluded that Senegal had broken rules forbidding teams from leaving the pitch without the referee’s consent. The confederation awarded Morocco a 3-0 win and the trophy.
Senegal erupted, branding the decision the “most blatant administrative robbery in the history of our sport.” They then paraded the trophy before supporters in Paris at the end of March.
Thibault Ulrich, a sports law researcher at Lausanne University, calls CAF’s ruling “extremely strict” and says it brushes aside Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala’s decision to let play continue.
The International Football Association Board, which guards the laws of the game, has a rule suggesting that a referee’s decision to continue cannot be overturned, even if he erred. CAS’s own rules likewise defend a referee’s calls, unless someone proves he acted corruptly or in bad faith.
Away from the courtroom, the Senegalese government demanded an investigation on March 18 into suspected corruption at CAF.
Two weeks before the verdict favouring Morocco, the confederation sacked Djibouti lawyer Yassin Robleh, who had spent six years safeguarding the integrity of its procedures. CAF has published no reasons for his dismissal.
