TheCable

Ahmad Ahmad, CAF president, has explained why the body scrapped the Africa-based player of the year and best referee categories from its 2017 awards.

On the Africa-based player of the year category, the CAF president said there was no point in having such a duplication, adding that “one award will serve all African players”.

Ahmad said the best referee award was scrapped because of ethical reasons and to avoid possible corruption among the game’s officials.

According to Oluwashina Okeleji of BBC sports, Ahmad made the disclosure to journalists on Wednesday at the International Conference Centre in Accra, Ghana.

“One award will serve all the African players for the Aiteo CAF awards for 2017,” Ahmad said.

“We don’t want to duplicate the award by making one bigger than the other. Best player in Africa is the young player. If you want to go up, don’t stay down. Don’t sit down.

“The referees award was scrapped because CAF believes in the ethical awards could encourage corruption and manipulation in games.”

“The referees already have their own awards by being recognised for high profile games.

“Based on the locations of the referee, they’re rewarded with – say for example – the champions league quarterfinals and subsequent games.

“Another argument is that it is unethical. The committee believes that by giving referees awards, it may lead to some corruption at a latter stage.”

The CAF/Aiteo footballer of the year award ceremony is set to take place on Thursday.

Liverpool duo of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are in the running for the 2017 award. Salah was voted the BBC African footballer of the year in December.

Riyad Mahrez of Algeria won the CAF player of the year award in 2016