By James Robert Kayindi
West African giants Morocco have been stunned by some of the sanctions put on them by the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) following their withdrawal from hosting AFCON2015 just two months to the kickoff of the competition.
Morocco declined hosting the tournament on health grounds due to the growing fear and tension that was filling the continent due to the lethal Ebola virus that greatly hit the western part of the continent.
The Royal Federation of Moroccan Football (RFMF) tried to ask CAF to delay the start of the biennial tournament but CAF didn’t buy the idea saying that their reasons were pathetic, no wonder Equatorial Guinea ended up hosting the event.
The Atlas Lions have since been expelled from the 2017 and 2019 tournaments, together with a fine of $1 million plus $9 million for compensation.
“The executive committee is totally stunned by the decisions taken by the Caf, which has no relation with the conclusion taken after the meeting in Cairo with the president (of the Moroccan federation),” reads a statement on Supersport.com.
The sanctions have now created controversies with in the football fraternity in Morocco between those questing for a negotiated solution with CAF and those seeking to appeal their decision to the Court of Arbitration of Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Meanwhile, the tension between North African countries and CAF has continued to rise following the recent dispute between the federation and Tunisia that left Tunisia’s federation president suspended. CAF also threatened to ban the nation from the 2017 AFCON following their unlawful protests and accusations over the poor officiating of their the quarter final tie against Equatorial Guinea at this year’s Africa Cup of Nation in a game that ended 2-1 as the final score after extra time in favor of the hosts.
Email Robert: Robert.k.circles@gmail.com
