The Court of Arbitration for Sport has completed its hearing on Senegal’s appeal against the decision to remove the Africa Cup of Nations title from Senegal and award it to Morocco.
CAS said it expects to issue a reasoned decision within days, although it did not announce a specific date. The hearing was held behind closed doors and concluded on Thursday.
CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb said the tribunal would not deliver its ruling on the day of the hearing or the following day.
“I expect the decision to come not today, not tomorrow, but a few days later,” Reeb told reporters. He said the facts were clear and that the remaining discussions focused on procedural and legal issues.
Dispute over the final
Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 after extra time in the final, which was played in Rabat in January. The match became contentious late in regulation time after a penalty was awarded against Senegal.
Senegal’s players walked off the pitch for 14 minutes, with several of them returning to the dressing room before play resumed. Morocco did not convert the penalty, and the match proceeded to extra time, where Senegal scored the winning goal.
CAF’s Appeal Board later ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match because of the walk-off. It overturned the result and awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory.
Senegal lodged its appeal with CAS on March 25. The case was heard by a three-member panel led by French sports law expert Gerald Simon. The panel also included Italian international law professor Luigi Fumagalli and Ulrich Haas, a Hamburg-based lawyer and professor of law at the University of Zurich.
Senegal expresses confidence
Senegal General Secretary Abdoulaye Sow said the country was confident after the hearing. He said the case should be resolved in a way that upholds sports law and protects the dignity of the competition.
“But the important thing is that sports law is upheld, and that this particular match is put to bed, for the sake of dignity and for Africa,” Sow said.
Morocco’s delegation did not speak to the media after the hearing.
Reeb acknowledged that supporters had faced a lengthy wait since the final. He said the timetable had been agreed with the parties and that CAS aimed to provide its reasoned award as soon as possible after the hearing.
The tribunal’s forthcoming decision will determine whether the original result stands or CAF’s ruling awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory is maintained.
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