Morocco have won their appeal against a suspension from the next two Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournaments by the Confederation of African Football (Caf).
Caf imposed bans from the 2017 and 2019 Afcon finals on the Atlas Lions after Morocco failed to host this year’s tournament, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) has overturned the decision.
It has also reduced a fine imposed on the Royal Moroccan football association (FRMF) from US$1m (£675,000) to US$50,000 (£34,000).
A separate Caf order that the FRMF pay €8m (US$8.7m, £5.85m) in damages “may be examined by another jurisdiction.”
“It (the Cas judgment) puts an end for now to this conflict with Caf, with which we will continue to work with normally,” the FRMF vice-president Nourredine Bouchhati said “Now we will meet with national coach Baddou Zaki to begin our program of preparation.”
Morocco notified Caf it could not host Afcon 2015 as originally scheduled over its fears for the spread of the contagious Ebola virus, requesting that the tournament be postponed by a year.
This prompted the continental body to relocate the tournament Equatorial Guinea, just two months to kickoff.
Caf also stopped the Atlas Lions from taking part in this year’s tournament, which was won by Cote d’Ivoire.
The FRMF had said it “rejected” Caf sanctions, describing them as “unlawful” before going on to lodge an appeal with Cas.
