The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced major reforms to its statutes and regulations aimed at restoring trust in referees, VAR officials and judicial bodies.
The move follows controversies during the final of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, which raised concerns about officiating and decision-making.
In a statement released on Sunday, CAF said the changes are designed to prevent a repeat of the incidents and strengthen confidence in African football governance.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe said the reforms were developed after consultations with legal and football experts.
“We are implementing changes that will strengthen trust in referees, VAR operators and judicial bodies,” he said.
He added that CAF is working with FIFA to improve training for referees and match officials across the continent.
The reforms also include plans to professionalise referees and improve their welfare, with better pay and development programmes.
CAF said it will continue appointing experienced judges and lawyers to its disciplinary and appeal boards, based on nominations from member associations. It stressed that independence and fairness in these bodies remain essential.
Motsepe said the organisation maintains a zero-tolerance stance on corruption and misconduct, adding that all member associations will be treated equally.
CAF confirmed that issues related to the AFCON 2025 final are currently before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The governing body said it is also focused on ongoing competitions, including the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, while preparing African teams for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Officials expressed confidence that African nations will perform strongly on the global stage.
