The decision delivered on Thursday 29 January by the CAF disciplinary commission continues to provoke a wave of indignation across the continent. What was supposed to be a moment of clarification and firmness in response to the serious incidents that marked the AFCON final has turned into a verdict widely regarded as incomprehensible, inconsistent and deeply unfair.
While serious facts were established, including the interruption of the match, the voluntary withdrawal of a team, tensions in the stands and disorder on the pitch, CAF opted for sanctions perceived as lenient and contradictory, giving the impression that regulations are not applied with the same rigor to everyone.
The reaction of the President of the Cameroonian Football Federation, Samuel Eto’o, perfectly reflects the unease. With biting irony, the former African football star denounced what he considers a dangerous precedent:
“Thank you to CAF for this case law. From now on, any team that feels wronged by refereeing can leave the pitch, go and rest in the dressing room, have some tea, disrupt the opponent’s concentration, then come back whenever it wants. Is this how African football is supposed to develop? I am sorry to say it frankly, with this logic, Africa will not develop.”
Samuel Eto’o’s message is clear: CAF is sending an extremely dangerous signal. By lightly sanctioning acts that disrupted a continental final followed worldwide, the African governing body appears to trivialize behaviors that should, on the contrary, be severely punished in order to protect the integrity of the game.
African football is already struggling to gain credibility on the international stage. Contested refereeing, fragile governance, recurring incidents in certain competitions, each controversy further weakens its image. In this context, a firm disciplinary decision could have sent a strong message of professionalism and authority. Instead, CAF gives the impression of hesitating, or even yielding to political calculations.
The most worrying aspect remains the long-term effect. If leaving the pitch, interrupting a match or allowing a situation to spiral out of control does not lead to exemplary sanctions, what will prevent other teams from using the same strategy in future competitions?
African football deserves better. Players, supporters and federations need a strong, coherent and fair institution. By missing this appointment with sporting justice, the CAF disciplinary commission has unfortunately fueled doubt instead of restoring confidence.
And Samuel Eto’o’s question remains, heavy with meaning: how can African football claim to develop if its own rules are not applied with rigor and consistency?
Translated from Abderrazzak Boussaid’s French article – le7tv