CAF President Patrice Motsepe has assured African football fans that the Confederation of African Football is taking urgent steps to address the declining standard of refereeing across the continent.
Motsepe admitted that several recent competitions have faced criticism over poor officiating, inconsistent decisions, and costly errors that have affected games at club and national levels. He described the issue as “unacceptable” and emphasized that CAF cannot afford to let refereeing undermine the growth of African football.
According to Motsepe, CAF is preparing a series of reforms aimed at improving training, monitoring referees more closely, and increasing the use of technology to support better decision-making. He also mentioned that the body is ready to invest more in referee development programs across all regions.
Motsepe reiterated that CAF’s goal is to ensure fair play, transparency, and officiating that matches global standards.
“We are committed to correcting the weaknesses in our refereeing system. African football deserves the best, and we will get it right,” he said.
The announcement has been welcomed by many football stakeholders who believe stronger accountability and better training will help restore confidence in match officials across Africa.
