Following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports on Wednesday, Senegal’s football governing body (FSF) promised on Thursday to begin a “crusade” against the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision on the cancellation of the nation’s African Cup of Nations title.
Senegal left the pitch on January 18 in protest of Morocco’s potentially decisive penalty during the final match in Rabat. They later returned to play, and Senegal won the match 1-0 in extra time after Morocco missed the controversial penalty awarded to them. Nevertheless, the match was subsequently declared forfeited.
The FSF’s legal team cautioned that the case could change the football world and challenge the notion that refereeing decisions are final.
“This decision cannot even be considered a true sporting justice ruling, it is so crude, so absurd, so irrational,” stated attorney Juan de Dios Crespo Perez, representing Senegal’s regulatory committee, at a press conference.
“It openly violates the Laws of the Game and the principle that refereeing decisions are final. (If CAS would rule against Senegal), The winners of the next World Cup could be decided in law firms rather than on the pitch.”
“In the face of this administrative robbery, the FSF refuses fatality. We will fight a moral and legal crusade,” Abdoulaye Fall, president of the FSF declared.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah