Tunisia will not be banned from participating in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) having tendered an apology to the Confederation of African Football (Caf) for accusing the governing body of bias.
The Tunisian football federation (FTF) had held Caf and its match officials responsible for their elimination from the 2015 Cup of Nations, owing to “questionable and biased” officiating by the referee in charge of their quarter-final defeat by hosts Equatorial Guinea on 31 January.
The FTF will, however, carry on with payment of a US$50, 000 (£33,000) fine for violent conduct of its players.
Angry Tunisian players invaded the pitch, insulted and tried to engage the referee after the game over a controversial stoppage-time penalty awarded to the Equatoguineans.
The penalty awarded by Mauritian referee, Rajindraparsad Seechurn, allowed Equatorial Guinea force extra-time and then secure a 2-1 victory.
Seechurn was handed a six-month ban by Caf for his “poor performance.”
And Caf threatened Tunisia with expulsion from the preliminary round of the 2017 Afcon tournament if it did not receive an apology by 31 March.
Tunisia initially refused to obey the order and, even lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), which they say they will now withdraw.
