CAF boss pledges to correct dwindling officiating standards

African football is set for a renewed push to elevate officiating standards, following remarks from Dr Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football, who has reaffirmed CAF’s commitment to building a stronger, more professional refereeing system across the continent.

Motsepe highlighted the significant work already underway, stressing that African referees are capable of matching the very best in the world when properly trained and supported.

His comments reflect a broader belief within CAF that the continent’s officiating talent only needs the right structures to thrive.

“There is a lot of work we have been doing to make sure that the referees are trained effectively because African referees are as good as the best in the world,” he said.

Beyond training, Motsepe pointed to the need for improved welfare and motivation, noting that referees must also be fairly compensated and encouraged.

He described this as essential to attracting and retaining top talent within the profession, while ensuring consistency and professionalism on the pitch.

“We have to keep training them not just training them, we have to pay them well. We have got to encourage African referees; we made a lot of progress and I am told that we have to continue because they are certain issues that didn’t proceed as I have instructed so we will continue to professionalize our referees and VAR operators.”

The CAF president also acknowledged ongoing challenges, indicating that while progress has been made, some issues remain unresolved and require continued attention.

He stressed that refereeing standards and the use of VAR operators must continue to be refined as part of CAF’s broader modernization agenda.

Motsepe revealed that valuable insights were shared with CAF’s Executive Committee by the Chairman of the refereeing committee following the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, noting that the exchange sparked detailed discussions and questions about the future direction of officiating on the continent.

“I benefited immensely from the feedback that the CAF Chairman of the refereeing committees came to give the exco in the last meeting just after the AFCON in Morocco and we asked them lot of questions.”

He acknowledged that refereeing will always be subject to scrutiny, given the passionate nature of the sport, with fans and stakeholders often divided over decisions on and off the pitch.

“Football fans all over the world and in Africa will have their own views about the performances of referees and VAR operators.”

The message from CAF leadership is clear: the journey toward professionalizing refereeing in Africa is far from over, but with sustained investment, training, and structural reform, the continent’s officials can rise to meet the demands of the modern game.