By Dickson Jere
As a sports lawyer, I took time to go through the various decisions made by the Appeals Board of CAF over the Senegal v Morocco AFCON Final. Several decisions were made including penalising Morocco for the use of laser lights by fans.
However, what made headlines was the decision to strip Senegal of the AFCON trophy and instead give it to Morocco. But this position contradicts the well settled legal position of the powers of referee in football.
1. The referee has final say in football, whether right or wrong. The match was not abandoned. Despite being delayed for a while, the match proceeded and even went into extra time. So, the winning goal was scored after the match resumed.
2. Since the Referee proceeded with the match, the only penalty available was to either fine or suspend the Senegal players who walked out of the pitch.
If Referee decisions can be reversed in the boardroom or courts, then the game of football will be destroyed.
Imagine if the Argentina handball goal by Diego Maradona was reversed? Once the Referee makes a decision and the game proceeds, we live with it!
Let us see how the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) will handle the appeal for Senegal.
