FIFPro: suspending Morocco from AFCON 2017 & 2019, "is to sacrifice an entire generation of players"

"Denying a nation the possibility of playing in three consecutive African Cup of Nations is to sacrifice an entire generation of players, prevent their playing at the highest international level, and disallow their practising an important part of their occupation as professional footballers. It is to put a brake on their development," said the African Division of FIFPro, the world players' union, regarding the sanctions taken by CAF (the African Football Confederation) against Morocco, on 13/02/2015.

CAF decided, on 06/02/2015, to suspend Morocco from the next two editions of AFCON (African Cup of Nations), in 2017 and 2019, and to impose a fine of $1m (€882,000) and to charge the FRMF (Royal Moroccan Football Federation) the amount of €8.05m as compensation for all material damage sustained following the decision of the Moroccan Federation not to host the 2015 edition of AFCON because of the Ebola epidemic.

FRMF appealed to CAS (the Court of Arbitration for Sport) over these sanctions on 17/02/2015.

• Equatorial Guinea eventually replaced Morocco and hosted AFCON 2015 from 17/01 to…