The head of the referees committee for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) commented on the controversy surrounding the “towel incident” that occurred during the Africa Cup of Nations final between the national teams of Morocco and Senegal last week.
The events began when stadium officials and players attempted to remove a towel belonging to the Senegal national team’s goalkeeper near the goal area.
This action caused tension between the two teams and led to a brief stoppage in the match, which was held in .
In an interview, he explained the reason for the intervention, pointing out that “the towel could have affected the course of the match.”
He added: “The towel must be kept away from the goalkeeper because it could influence match events.”
He clarified: “It is not part of any player’s equipment, and if any dispute arises on the pitch, I believe it should be removed, as such things can have a direct or indirect impact.”
He also warned that the use of such tools inside the stadium “could be considered unsportsmanlike behavior or an attempt to influence the match result.”
He emphasized: “Using a towel inside the stadium is considered unacceptable behavior and could be interpreted as an attempt to influence the course of the match.”
won its second title in , following a 1-0 victory over the host nation after extra time in the final match.
The Morocco national team missed the chance to win its second continental title and its first in 50 years, after its player Ibrahim Diaz missed a penalty in the last minute of second-half stoppage time. The regular time ended in a goalless draw, forcing the two teams into extra time.
