Khaberni - Patrice Motsepe, President of the African Football Confederation, emphasized the "CAF" firm determination to maintain and enhance the integrity, reputation, and global competitiveness of African football and its continental competitions.
Motsepe stated on the confederation's website on Friday evening: "I am completely determined, alongside the executive committee and the presidents of the member federations, representing 54 African countries, to maintain and enhance the integrity, reputation, and global competitiveness of African football and 'CAF' competitions."
He added: "I felt great disappointment regarding the unacceptable incidents that occurred in the finals of the African Nations Cup in Morocco. I have taken note of the disciplinary committee's decision, which was announced on Wednesday, and I respect and will comply with any decision issued by the judicial bodies of CAF."
"CAF issued financial fines last Wednesday exceeding one million dollars, in addition to suspending the coach of Senegal and several players from Senegal and Morocco, following the chaotic final of the African Nations Cup earlier this month, which saw the withdrawal of the Senegal team in protest, fan attempts to break into the pitch, and clashes among journalists."
Motsepe confirmed to the CAF site: "I have called for a meeting of CAF's executive committee, the highest decision-making body outside of the ordinary annual general assembly, to review the regulations, including the disciplinary law, to ensure that CAF's judicial bodies have the necessary powers to impose appropriate and deterrent sanctions for serious violations of the statutes and regulations and the disciplinary law, and behaviors and actions that seriously undermine or harm the reputation, integrity, respect, and global competitiveness of African football and CAF competitions."
He continued: "In the past few years, we have significantly improved the quality, integrity, independence, skills, and expertise of African referees, operators of the video assistant referee (VAR) technology, and match observers."
He went on: "We are determined to allocate additional financial resources and specialized technical expertise to ensure that the quality, integrity, impartiality, skills, and expertise of the African referees, operators of the video assistant referee technology, and match observers, are on par with the best in the world."
He affirmed: "Among the first changes I introduced upon taking over the presidency of CAF was to ensure that the refereeing committee is independent and neutral, consisting of members nominated by the 54 member federations in CAF, as well as the best qualified and respected referees in Africa. It is very important that African referees, operators of video assistant referee (VAR) technology, and match observers are seen, respected, and recognized as neutral and fair, and as being of world-class level."
Motsepe concluded: "I am confident that with the additional changes and extensive measures we are introducing, African football and CAF competitions will continue to earn respect and admiration, and be among the best in the world."
