Morocco fined $1 million, banned from next two African Cups
The Confederation of African Football has fined Morocco $1 million and banned the country from the next two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, the CAF announced on Friday.
The punishment comes after Morocco refused to host the 2015 tournament due to concerns about the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Morocco wanted the tournament to be postponed until 2016, and the CAF threatened to sanction the country if the tournament did not proceed as originally scheduled.
After Morocco officially withdrew, the CAF expelled Morocco from the 2015 tournament, which is instead being held in Equatorial Guinea.
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Morocco will now be banned from the 2017 and 2019 tournaments as well.
In refusing to host the tournament, Morocco said it was concerned that West Africans traveling for the tournament could pose a problem for their citizens.
Last year, CAF canceled matches in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, the only three countries in the world with widespread Ebola outbreak.
- Molly Geary
