The Confederation of African Football has resolved to take over the payment of referees for international games, in a bid to tackle corruption in African football.
The decision was taken at the CAF’s executive committee meeting held in Casablanca on Wednesday.
The current resolution comes ten months after Ghanaian referee, Joseph Lamptey was slapped with a life ban by FIFA for match fixing.
Previously, the burden of Referee’s remuneration rested on host associations.
According to a statement by CAF, the decision over refs’ payments will take immediate effect.
“Effective 2018, indemnities of referees designated for CAF matches, will be paid directly by CAF,” reads the statement.
“This historic decision is a materialization of a campaign promise by the CAF President. Till now, the regulations required host associations to pay these indemnities.
“The decision reduces the financial burden on national associations and also eliminates an ethical challenge because it removes the suspicion perceived between national associations and the referees.”
This is the second time in a month that CAF takes action in order to minimize corruption in refereeing.
In December, CAF removed the Best Referee in Africa Award. According to the Confederation’s president, Ahmad, the award was scrapped over fears it could “breed corruption.”
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
