AFCON 2023: Referees receive briefing on match manipulation
The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Referees took part in an Integrity Briefing where they were briefed on possibilities of match manipulation.
A total of 68 referees, assistant referees, and video referees were briefed on the topic to ensure fair play during the tournament.
The session was led by Felix Majani, the Director of Legal Affairs at CAF, who explained the importance of upholding integrity in football. Majani warned the referees about the risks of match manipulation and the legal consequences of being involved in such activities.
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Majani said: ”CAF has stepped up its fight against match manipulation, with a particular focus on respect for the values of integrity. Our aim was to remind match officials not to compromise with these values throughout the competition. As the boss of the match, the referee is the main target of match manipulators, ready to offer all sorts of rewards to obtain a result to their advantage. We are delighted with the exchanges and the enthusiasm with which the referees actively participated in the session. ”
The exchanges were successfully delivered by Sacre Guebae, Manager of Integrity and Omar El Ghiati, Head of Legal Corporate at CAF Legal Affairs and Compliance Division.
At the end of the interactive briefing, Desiré Noumandiez Doue, Head of Referees and Technology at CAF, said: ”The referees taking part in this edition represent the cream of the crop of the continent, and it is important to ensure that they understand the issues surrounding the biggest event on the continent. The values of integrity are crucial in preserving the beauty of the game, even with exceptional training on the pitch.’’
