Faced with attacks from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Senegal is organizing its defense. While the CAF appeal jury decided on March 17 to award the victory to Morocco on the green carpet (3-0) in the final of the African Cup of Nations, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced this Wednesday a referral to the Senegalese football federation (FSF).
The day after the appeal was filed, the FSF held a press conference in the 17th arrondissement of Paris. In the presence of the Senegalese ambassador and the international press, the president of the organization and the defense committee, made up of five international lawyers, presented the justifications for the appeal.
“Moral and legal crusade”
In the preamble, the president of the federation Abdoulaye Fall mentioned “the most unfair administrative heist in the history of our sport”emphasizing the repercussions of an affair which goes beyond the borders of Senegal. “We must defend the honor of our dispossessed players, preserve the integrity of African football and fight with all our strength to free our incarcerated supporters”he insisted, while nineteen Senegalese supporters were imprisoned by the Moroccan authorities following clashes during the final. The message is clear: more than a legal procedure, according to him it is about washing the honor of a country “victim of a crime” by leading a “moral and legal crusade”.
After the stormy final on January 18 between Morocco and Senegal (1-0 ap for Senegal), marked by the spontaneous return of the Senegalese players to the locker room after the award of a penalty to their opponents, the Moroccan federation contacted CAF on the grounds of articles 82 and 84 of the CAN regulations. Under these, players were prohibited from leaving the field without the authorization of the referee. On March 17, the African association thus agreed with the Atlas Lions and announced the defeat of Senegal.
According to the defense committee, this decision, which occurred two months after the match, constitutes a “attack” in football. “Calling into question arbitral intangibility, so brazenly violating laws 5 and 6 of the game (relating to the arbitral decision)it is an attack on the discipline of the game »launched Me Seydou Diagne. “It is the integrity of the world of football that will be judged before the CASengaged Me Juan de Dios Crespo, Spanish lawyer. I have never seen a finished match refereed again on the green carpet. »
“It is the integrity of the world of football that will be judged before the CAS”
“Morocco asked 4 things from CAF, at first instance and on appealdeveloped Me Seydou Diagne. I quote: note that the Senegal team has withdrawn, note Morocco’s 3-0 victory on the green carpet, that the title be withdrawn from the victorious team on the field, and that the rewards (medals, prize money, etc.) be given to it.. If the last two requests were rejected by the appeal jury, the first two, the most important because the most symbolic, were received favorably.
9 to 12 months of procedure
“Claiming a trophy two months later is an embarrassing, not to say dishonorable, situation for Morocco. If the CAS agrees with Morocco, the winner of the next World Cup could be won thanks to lawyers and no longer on the ground”lamented Me Seydou Diagne. While the procedure before the CAS is expected to last between 9 and 12 months, the defense committee requested an accelerated procedure, with “possibly a decision within 2 months, but all parties must agree”specified Mr. Serge Vittoz.
Despite a pending situation, Senegal still claims victory at the CAN. This Saturday, the Lions of Téranga face Peru at the Stade de France in a friendly and the title celebration ceremony was maintained, despite the CAF decision. “There is currently no order to return the title, so we will celebrate it on Saturday”affirmed Me Diagne. Three months before the start of the World Cup, the Blues’ future opponents in the group stage are leading the battle on the court floors, eager to display a second star on their green and gold jersey. The tremors of the earthquake which shook the football world did not quickly disappear…
