African football’s governing body has granted a temporary break to referees who officiated at the business end of the Africa Cup of Nations, allowing them time away from the pitch after an intense and demanding tournament.
Officials who were involved in the knockout rounds of AFCON will not be assigned to matches this weekend in CAF’s interclub competitions, including the Champions League and Confederation Cup.
Their return to action is scheduled for matchdays five and six of the group stages, once this short rest period has been completed.
The decision reflects the physical and mental demands placed on referees during the continent’s flagship international tournament.
The latter stages of AFCON require sustained concentration, constant travel and high-pressure decision-making, often under intense scrutiny.
CAF sources indicate that the pause has been introduced to ensure officials can recover fully and return to duty in optimal condition.
In the meantime, the absence of these referees will be covered by officials who exited the AFCON earlier in the competition.
These referees have already been cleared to resume domestic and continental duties and will take charge of fixtures scheduled across Africa this weekend.
CAF believes this rotation will allow competitions to continue smoothly without compromising standards.
The governing body has previously stressed the importance of referee welfare as part of its broader development strategy.
By managing workloads and avoiding burnout, CAF aims to maintain consistency and quality in officiating across both international and club competitions.
The brief rest period is seen internally as a preventive measure rather than a disruption to the calendar.
Interclub matches will therefore proceed as planned, with appointments adjusted to reflect the temporary reshuffle.
CAF expects the transition to be seamless, with experienced officials stepping in before the gradual return of referees who were central to the AFCON knockout stages.
As Africa’s elite referees prepare to resume their roles in the coming weeks, the pause underscores CAF’s recognition that performance on the pitch is closely linked to rest and recovery off it.
The focus now turns to the next round of continental fixtures, which will mark the full return of officials who played a key role in one of the most closely followed AFCON tournaments in recent years.
