Morocco and Tunisia to appeal CAF bans

In a followup to the news of the African Football Confederation banning Morocco and threatening to ban Tunisia from future tournaments, both countries have filed appeals against the bans.

Both countries submitted their appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Tunisia is under threat of ban for accusing the governing African body of cheating during the recent Afcon games and have been given until March 31 to apologise or face sanctions. Tunisia made the allegations over a penalty in a 2-1 loss to Equatorial Guinea at the recent Nations Cup. That defeat eliminated Tunisia at the quarter-final stage of the competition and furious Tunisia reacted after the game by chasing the match referee.

Caf fined Tunisia £33,000 for what it termed “the aggressive attitude of some supporters in the stands, invasion of the pitch after the final whistle by players and substitutes of the Tunisian team – insulting the referee of the match and trying to physically assault him”.

Morocco were banned for pulling out of hosting the tournament for fears of Ebola last year following which, Equatorial Guinea had to step in and host. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FMRF) has taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, requesting the sanctions be lifted by the end of next month. For Morocco’s case a process of arbitration has been opened by the arbiters and is being conducted under proper channels and guidelines.