CAF to review regulations, improve VAR after AFCON 2025 final rows – Motsepe
The President of the Confederation of African Football, Dr Patrice Motsepe, has reaffirmed CAF’s commitment to protecting the integrity, reputation and global competitiveness of African football.
This is as he announces that a review of CAF regulations following incidents at the finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.
He disclosed this in a speech published on the CAF website on Friday.
“I am absolutely determined and the CAF Executive Committee (“EXCO”), as well as the CAF Member Association Presidents, who represent 54 African Countries; are also determined, to maintain and advance the integrity, reputation and global competitiveness of African Football and CAF Competitions,” he said.
Motsepe said he was “extremely disappointed with the unacceptable incidences that took place at the Finals of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025,” adding that he had taken note of the rulings issued by CAF’s judicial structures.
“I have taken note of the decision of the CAF Disciplinary Board which was announced on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, and I respect and will adhere to every decision of our CAF Judicial Bodies,” he said.
The CAF President confirmed that the organisation’s highest decision-making body, outside of the Annual Ordinary General Assembly, would now meet to consider regulatory changes.
“I have called a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee (EXCO), which is the highest decision-making body in CAF, outside the CAF Annual Ordinary General Assembly; to review the CAF Regulations, including the CAF Disciplinary Code,” Motsepe said.
He said the objective of the review was to ensure that CAF’s judicial bodies are properly empowered.
“To ensure that the CAF Judicial Bodies have the power to impose appropriate and dissuasive sanctions for serious violations of the CAF Statutes, Regulations, Disciplinary Code and for behaviour and conduct that seriously undermines or harms the reputation, integrity, respect and global competitiveness of African Football and CAF Competitions,” he said.
Motsepe also addressed refereeing and match officiating, highlighting progress made in recent years and further measures planned to strengthen standards across CAF competitions.
“We have, over the past few years, significantly improved the quality, integrity, independence, skills and expertise of African referees, VAR operators and match commissioners,” he said.
He added that CAF would increase its investment in this area.
“We are determined to allocate additional financial and expert technical resources to ensure that the quality, integrity, impartiality, skills and expertise of African referees, VAR operators and match commissioners, are as good as the best in the world,” Motsepe said.
Reflecting on reforms introduced during his presidency, he pointed to changes in the structure of officiating governance.
“One of the first changes that I introduced when I became President of CAF was to ensure that the CAF Referees Committee is independent, impartial and consists of members who were proposed by the 54 CAF Member Associations, as well as the best qualified and respected referees in Africa,” he said.
The CAF president stressed the importance of how African officials are viewed globally.
“It is very important that African referees, VAR operators and match commissioners are perceived, respected and acknowledged as being impartial, fair and world class,” he said.
Looking ahead, the CAF President said he remained confident about the future standing of African football.
“I am confident that with the additional changes and extensive measures that we are introducing, African Football and CAF Competitions will continue to be respected, admired and amongst the best in the world,” Motsepe concluded.
