Tunisia and Morocco avoid AFCON bans

Tunisia has avoided being banned from Afcon games while Morocco have successfully appealed their bans for the competition.

Tunisia avoided a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations ban after apologizing to the Confederation of African Football for accusing the governing body of bias. Tunisia initially refused to do so and lodged a protest with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which they have now agreed to withdraw. Morocco won their appeal against their bans from the 2017 and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

As previously reported, The Tunisians had made the allegations over a controversial penalty in a Nations Cup quarter-final defeat by Equatorial Guinea on 31 January. Caf has, however, rejected Tunisia’s appeal against a $50,000 fine for violent conduct by its players as they tried to attack the referee.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned the ruling made by the Confederation of African Football after Morocco did not host the 2015 finals. It has also reduced a fine imposed on Morocco’s Football Association (FRMF) from US$1m (£675,000) to $50,000 (£34,000).

However, Caf’s order for FRMF to pay 8m euros (US$8.7m, £5.85m) in damages “may be examined by another jurisdiction”. Caf claims it suffered final losses because of the relocation of the 2015 finals from Morocco to Equatorial Guinea – only two months before the start of the event.