TDFormer President of Liberia and Africa’s only Ballon d’Or winner, George Weah, has strongly criticized the decision by the Confederation of African Football to re-award the AFCON 2025 title to Morocco from Senegal.
In a detailed statement, Weah described the move as lacking any “sporting justification” and warned that it could damage the integrity of football on the African continent.
“Football Must Be Decided on the Pitch”
Weah argued that results obtained during play should remain final, stressing that post-match decisions should not override on-field outcomes.
“Football must be decided on the pitch, not re-decided after the final whistle,” he stated.
He maintained that once a match has been completed in accordance with the referee’s authority and the Laws of the Game, there is no basis for nullifying the result.
Cites Laws of the Game
Referencing Law 5 of the Laws of the Game, which outlines the authority of the referee, Weah emphasized that match officials’ decisions during play must be respected.
According to him, the AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco was completed — including extra time — with a result determined on the field.
He noted that the referee’s report indicated a stoppage during the match, not a forfeiture, and recommended sanctions for infractions rather than overturning the result.
Warns of Dangerous Precedent
The former football star cautioned that allowing administrative bodies to overturn match outcomes after completion could set a dangerous precedent.
“Otherwise the beautiful game will head down a slippery slope where committee room officials… will be making post-match rulings to override referees’ on-field decisions,” he warned.
“A Travesty” Against African Football
Weah described the decision as deeply damaging to the credibility of African football.
“This decision has further scarred and blemished African football, undermining confidence in the fairness, consistency, and integrity of the game,” he said.
Calling the outcome a “travesty,” he urged swift intervention from the Court of Arbitration for Sport and other relevant bodies to review the decision.
Denies Supporting CAF Decision
Weah also dismissed circulating social media claims suggesting he supported the CAF ruling.
“Social media posts… claiming that I support the decision… are blatantly false,” he clarified.
He urged individuals spreading such claims to refrain from misrepresenting his position.
Growing Controversy
The CAF decision to re-award the AFCON 2025 title has sparked widespread debate across the football community.
Analysts, fans, and former players are questioning the implications for governance and fairness in African football.
Weah’s intervention adds significant weight to the criticism, given his stature as Africa’s only Ballon d’Or winner and a respected figure in global football.
Call for Urgent Review
The former AC Milan and PSG star concluded by calling for decisive action to ensure that the integrity of the sport is preserved.
Observers say the matter could escalate into a major legal and administrative dispute within African football if taken before international arbitration bodies.
