Morocco to appeal â??disproportionateâ?? CAF sanctions from chaotic 2025 AFCON final

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has announced on Tuesday its decision to appeal the sanctions recently issued by the Disciplinary Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The legal challenge follows the controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final held on January 18, 2026, which was marred by a mid-match walk-off by the Senegalese national team and subsequent fan violence.

In an official statement, the FRMF characterized the disciplinary measures as "not proportionate to the gravity and seriousness of the events" that unfolded during the championship match.

The federation’s leadership, spearheaded by President Fouzi Lekjaa, has already voiced these concerns in formal correspondence to CAF President Patrice Motsepe.

The Moroccan side contends that the current penalties fail to address the systemic breakdown of order that occurred when Senegalese players and staff vacated the pitch in protest of a refereeing decision.

The core of Morocco's grievance centers on the unprecedented nature of the final's disruptions. During the match, play was halted for nearly 15 minutes after Senegal’s coaching staff ordered players to the locker room following a VAR-awarded penalty for Morocco.

While play eventually resumed and Senegal secured a 1–0 victory, the FRMF argues that the act of withdrawal should have triggered stricter regulatory consequences, including potential forfeiture.

Instead, CAF’s Disciplinary Committee issued a mix of fines and multi-match bans for specific players and coaches from both sides.

Furthermore, the FRMF is seeking to overturn sanctions placed on its own personnel, including a three-match suspension handed to midfielder Ismaël Saibari.

Moroccan officials describe these specific penalties as "unfounded," arguing that the chaos—which included pitch invasions and riots—was primarily instigated by the opposition's refusal to play and the failure of security protocols.

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