The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on March 29, 2026, announced a series of reforms to its statutes and regulations aimed at strengthening trust and confidence in referees, VAR operators, and its judicial bodies.
The changes follow controversial incidents that occurred during the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with CAF emphasizing that the new measures are intended to prevent a recurrence of such situations.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe said the organisation is implementing “far-reaching changes” to improve governance, transparency, and professionalism across African football.
“These changes and improvements to the CAF Statutes and Regulations will strengthen trust and confidence in CAF referees, VAR operators, match commissioners, and in the CAF Disciplinary Board and Appeal Board,” Motsepe said.
He added that CAF had sought extensive legal guidance from leading African and international football experts to ensure its regulations align with global best practices, both on and off the pitch.
The reforms come despite the strong performances of match officials during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where referees and VAR operators received widespread praise. CAF says it is determined to restore that level of confidence and admiration.
A key focus of the reforms is the independence and integrity of CAF’s judicial bodies. The organisation will continue appointing highly respected African judges and legal professionals to the Disciplinary and Appeal Boards.
These appointments are made by the CAF Executive Committee and General Assembly from candidates nominated by the 54 Member Associations and Zonal Unions.
Motsepe also stressed the need to professionalise refereeing across the continent, including improving remuneration and expanding training programs in collaboration with FIFA to ensure African officials compete at the highest global standards.
He reaffirmed CAF’s commitment to governance, ethics, and transparency, noting that progress in these areas over the past five years has attracted new sponsors and partners.
“Our commitment to zero tolerance for corruption and improper behaviour has been recognised,” Motsepe said, adding that fairness among all Member Associations remains non-negotiable.
CAF further confirmed that matters relating to the AFCON 2025 final are currently before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, while the organisation shifts its operational focus to ongoing competitions, including the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.
In addition, CAF is working closely with African nations preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, expressing confidence that the continent’s representatives will perform strongly on the global stage.
