A betrayal": the former head of the CAF disciplinary committee criticizes the sanctions of the AFCON

The former head of the continental disciplinary body did not hide his disappointment with the verdict handed down by his successors. According to Raymond Hack, the $300,000 fine and the five-match suspension imposed on the Senegalese coach are "incorrect" and disproportionate to the facts. He notably points out the lack of deterrent effect of these financial sanctions, recalling that the competition’s payouts amount to several million dollars for the finalists.

For the expert, the primary responsibility for this chaos lies with the Senegalese coach, Pape Thiaw. By ordering his players to leave the field, the latter, according to him, provoked the escalation of violence and the clashes between the two teams. Raymond Hack believes that the position of influence of a coach requires absolute exemplarity and that a six-month suspension from all football activity would have been the only strong signal capable of restoring the credibility of the body.

The jurist also deplored the lack of firmness regarding the pressure exerted on the refereeing. He insists on the finality of the official decisions, criticizing the behavior of the players who surrounded the referee during the VAR review. Hack considers the two-match suspensions "insignificant", comparing them to simple ordinary red cards, which, according to him, fails to punish the serious damage done to the image of the game by the two camps.

In conclusion, the former official calls on CAF to show greater methodological rigor to preserve the values of sport. Without taking sides for Morocco or Senegal, he considers that the commission missed an opportunity to reaffirm its authority. This lack of firmness could, according to him, create a dangerous precedent for future international competitions where ethics and fair play should remain the priority.