PARIS – The Senegal Football Federation (FSF) is mounting a vigorous legal challenge to the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to award the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title to Morocco, and they’ve brought in one of the world’s leading sports lawyers to lead the charge. Spanish attorney Juan de Dios Crespo-Pérez, renowned for his expertise in international sports law, will spearhead Senegal’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The dispute stems from the controversial final match between Senegal and Morocco on January 18th, which Senegal initially won 1-0. However, CAF reversed the result to a 3-0 victory for Morocco, citing Senegal’s protest during the game over a disallowed penalty. The FSF views this decision as a grave injustice and is determined to reclaim the title.
“This decision cannot even be considered a true sporting justice ruling – it is so crude, so absurd, so irrational,” Crespo-Pérez declared at a press conference in Paris on Thursday, as reported by The Eagle Online. “It openly violates the Laws of the Game and the principle that refereeing decisions are final.”
Crespo-Pérez is no stranger to high-stakes legal battles in the sporting world. His impressive resume includes representing Lionel Messi in a past case, handling the €222 million transfer of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain, and advising FIFA and numerous other sports federations and clubs, including Valencia, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Sevilla, and Barcelona. He is also a frequent lecturer, teaching in four languages across twelve countries and forty masters programs. As he told MARCA several years ago, “I have a global vision.”
The lawyer’s involvement signals the seriousness with which Senegal is approaching this case. He believes the title rightfully belongs to Senegal, citing precedents within the CAS that could support their claim. “The title is of Senegal and there are precedents of the TAS (Tribunal of Arbitraje Deportivo) that can support it,” he stated, according to MARCA.
The FSF has already lodged an appeal with CAS, seeking to overturn CAF’s ruling. Serge Vittoz, another member of Senegal’s legal team, expressed a desire for an expedited process, though acknowledged that such a timeline requires agreement from all parties. “Such a procedure usually lasts nine to 12 months but we desire it to move faster,” Vittoz said, as reported by The Eagle Online.
Crespo-Pérez, who has handled 500 cases before the CAS, emphasized the importance of the referee’s authority in the decision-making process. He argued that the referee’s decision to allow play to continue after the disputed penalty was crucial. “The referee is the one who decides and, in this case, there were two stops. The referee decided that the match should continue and that is fundamental to our position,” he explained.
While Crespo-Pérez refrained from detailing the full extent of Senegal’s legal strategy, he did suggest that they possess “solid legal reasons” to support their claim. He also acknowledged, without elaborating, that another member of the legal team, Seydou Diagne, had hinted at the possibility of corruption influencing CAF’s decision.
The core of Morocco’s appeal, and the basis for CAF’s reversal, centers on the claim that Senegal abandoned the match without the referee’s authorization, a violation of Article 82 of the AFCON regulations. Senegal’s players left the field in protest of the penalty decision, with only Sadio Mané remaining on the pitch.
Crespo-Pérez’s involvement raises the stakes considerably. His past successes, combined with his deep understanding of international sports law, make him a formidable advocate for Senegal. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications, as Crespo-Pérez himself warned: “If the Court of Arbitration for Sport rules against Senegal, the winners of the next World Cup could be decided in law firms rather than on the pitch.”
The FSF is clearly prepared for a protracted legal battle. They are framing this as a “moral and legal crusade,” determined to defend what they believe is their rightful championship. The coming months will be critical as the CAS reviews the evidence and renders its decision, a decision that will undoubtedly be closely watched by the global football community.
Senegal’s legal team is pushing for a swift resolution to the case, but the CAS process can be lengthy. The next step will be for CAS to schedule a hearing and review the arguments presented by both sides. Fans and stakeholders will be awaiting updates as the case progresses.
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