Overview:
To many, the CAF sanctions imposed are totally disproportionate and incomprehensible.
Days after the chaos that marred the 2025 AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat city, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) communicated the sanctions to different parties.
Senegal, Morocco Federations were both fined and so are the different persons directly involved, a coach Pape Bouna Thiaw, the Head Coach of the Senegalese National Team and various players (four).
Senegal was fined USD 615,000 whilst Morocco was fined USD 315,000.
Thiaw was suspended for five (5) official CAF matches for his unsporting conduct in violation of the CAF Disciplinary Code principles of fair play and integrity and for bringing the game into disrepute as well as a fine of USD 100,000.
Two Senegalese players Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were also suspended.
Two players from Morocco Achraf Hakimi and Ismaël Saibari were suspended too.
To many, the sanctions imposed are totally disproportionate and incomprehensible.
Saibari received a three-match suspension for moving a towel.
Samuel Eto’o was suspended for four matches for losing his temper in the stands.
Yet a coach who sabotaged a continental final in front of the entire world by deliberately leaving the pitch receives only a five-match suspension.
This reflects a completely incoherent hierarchy of offences, contrary to all sporting and disciplinary logic.
Sanctions against ball boys: absurd and legally unfounded:
The sanctions targeting the ball boys are grotesque and legally unfounded.
Ball boys fall under the direct authority of CAF, which organizes the competition — not the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).
If tomorrow an incident involving a ball boy occurred during a Nigeria–Senegal match, who would be sanctioned? Neither team.
So why should Morocco be held responsible for personnel who fall under CAF’s organizational authority?
If during a Morocco match an incident involving a ball boy and a Moroccan player were to occur, who would be sanctioned?
This decision seems incoherent and legally ridiculous.
Who instructed the ball boys to behave the way they did? The Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF)!
You would fool no one into believing that the ball boys acted on their own volition. In the final game, Moroccan players like Hakimi handed an opponent’s (Mendy’s) towel over to the ball boys even as the opponents protested.
That behavior warrants punishment.
Senegal raised a lot of complaints about Morocco’s gamesmanship before the final. For example, they failed to provide adequate security to the Senegalese. That was apparently, not addressed by CAF. So, expect Morocco to do it again to visiting teams, which next time, could be your beloved Uganda Cranes.
Yes, CAF was not fair. They should have handed Morocco more punishment. Expect more of the same favorable treatment from CAF.
Egypt used to be in this position before Morocco.
Uganda and FUFA should cozy up to CAF and get similar favorable treatment.
Don’t think you are totally correct about the ball boys.
Ball boys (and girls) fall under the authority of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), not directly CAF.
Here’s the clean breakdown
LOC (Local Organising Committee):
Recruits, trains, accredits, and manages ball attendants
Assigns them to match venues
Oversees their conduct during games
CAF (Confederation of African Football):
Sets the competition regulations and standards
Holds the LOC accountable for compliance
Can sanction teams, officials, or the LOC if ball attendants influence a match or violate rules (This you must note)
In short:
Ball boys are LOC-controlled, but CAF has ultimate regulatory authority and disciplinary power.