Weah also said social media posts widely circulating which claim that he supported the decision by CAF are blatantly false.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former Liberian President and African football legend George Weah has faulted the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and award it to the hosts, Morocco.
In a lengthy statement, Weah slammed the move, insisting that football matches must be decided on the pitch.
His comments come as he clarified that social media posts claiming he supported CAF’s ruling are “blatantly false.”
CAF recently stripped the Teranga Lions of the 2025 AFCON title, awarding it to the Atlas Lions following a ruling by the body’s Appeal Board.
The decision followed a petition by Morocco, which argued that Senegal’s conduct during a chaotic final constituted a forfeit.
Consequently, the board nullified the original 1-0 result and awarded Morocco a 3-0 walkover win, declaring the host nation the new continental champions.
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Reacting to the decision, Weah—the only African to win the Ballon d’Or (1995) and a three-time African Player of the Year (1989, 1994, 1995)—rejected the verdict.
“In football, the Laws of the Game are clear: the referee on the pitch is the final authority,” Weah stated. “Once play is allowed to continue and the match is completed, the result obtained on the field must stand.”
The former AC Milan striker warned that overriding on-field results sets a dangerous precedent for the sport.
“There is no sporting justification to nullify a match that was completed in accordance with the referee’s authority,” he continued. “Otherwise, the beautiful game will head down a slippery slope where committee room officials, not match officials, make post-match rulings to override on-field decisions like penalties, offsides, and red cards.”
Weah argued that the Appeals Board’s decision has “scarred and blemished” African football, undermining the continent’s reputation for fairness and integrity.
“I call on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and other relevant authorities to move decisively so that this travesty does not stand,” he emphasized.
Finally, Weah addressed the misinformation regarding his stance, advising those circulating “fallacious statements” and using his image to push false narratives to refrain immediately.
