Patrice Motsepe: CAF closely monitoring officiating concerns at AFCON

The president of CAF has been regularly engaging the match officials and their leadership in this tournament, trying to get to the bottom of this.

Speaking to SABC Sport on the stairs of the Cathedral St Pierre Catholic Church in Rabat yesterday, Motsepe says that once the integrity of match officials or their decisions is questioned, it needs to be addressed. 

"That's a very important point and what is important is what the ordinary football and the spectator thinks. Of course I had a meeting with all of the referees and all of the VAR operators and the match commissioners before the competition started,” Motsepe said. 

“I said to him we have to officiate you, we are proud of you. You've got to officiate every match with the highest level, with the highest degree of integrity, impartiality, independence and also there's a recognition amongst all of us that what the ordinary supporter thinks about football is critically important and we've gotta respect that. 

“I heard some of the supporters saying, 'Yes but was that not a penalty, was that not a red card, was that not a goal' or whatever the observations are. We are intently attentive to that."

READ: Kobamelo Kodisang set for Gavin Hunt reunion at Stellenbosch FC

The AFCON’s 35th edition third and fourth place play-off between Nigeria and Egypt takes place in Casablanca tomorrow, followed by the highly anticipated final between the hosts Morocco and Senegal on Sunday in Rabat.

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was hailed as one of the biggest success stories of the AFCON 2023 tournament in the Ivory Coast two years ago. 

But 24 months later, this year’s edition, especially in some big games, has been characterised by dubious officiating in some matches, including VAR decisions. Motsepe says that, as much as the referees have to be independent in applying the laws of the game, their impartiality is critical as well.

"As much as the independence of referees is critical, we have an enormous obligation to the spectators, to the football fans, to the players and to all the stakeholders that there's an acceptance but more also, respect and confidence in the decisions that are taken, critically important,” he added. 

“As the president of CAF I've got to make sure that my interaction is not just in compliance with the CAF and FIFA statutes and regulations but it's also ethical and it's also in compliance with governance.

“But I have to get the message to the referees, to the match commissioners, VAR to say we've got the greatest amount of trust and confidence in you.

 “The decisions you take and the way you conduct the matches must ensure that the faith and the confidence that the ordinary football supporters and spectators have in the quality of African referees and VAR operators is world class. So, that's a very important issue."