Rooney Slams ‘Crazy’ CAF Ruling as Senegal Vows to Appeal Overturned Result
Former England captain Wayne Rooney has strongly criticised the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after the governing body overturned Senegal’s 1–0 victory over Morocco, handing the match to Morocco via a 3–0 forfeit.
The controversy stems from a Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash that descended into chaos when Senegal walked off the pitch in protest following the award of a stoppage-time penalty to Morocco. Initially, Senegal had secured a 1–0 win on the field, but CAF’s disciplinary committee ruled that the Senegalese side’s abandonment of the match constituted a forfeit, awarding the result to Morocco.
Rooney, the former Manchester United and England captain, did not hold back in his assessment of the decision.
“It’s crazy. Senegal won that game fairly on the pitch,” Rooney said. “To take the win away from them and give it to the other team after a decision like that—it doesn’t make sense. Football is decided by what happens on the pitch, not in a boardroom afterwards.”
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has also condemned the ruling, labelling it unjust. In a statement, the federation confirmed its intention to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to have the original result reinstated.
The incident has sparked debate over the application of forfeit rules in cases where teams walk off in protest against refereeing decisions, with Rooney’s intervention adding significant weight to Senegal’s case as they prepare for their legal challenge.
About The Author
