CAF fined the FRMF $1 million (£660,000/€870,000) and banned Morocco from competing at the 2017 and 2019 tournaments.

FRMF have called for all of their punishments to be annulled.

Equatorial Guinea stepped in as last minute hosts of this year's AFCON and as a result the CAF are also looking to recover $9 million (£6 million/€8 million) in damages from FRMF.

The Moroccans have asked for a final decision to be made by the CAS the end of next month.

On hearing the decision of the CAF, the FRMF claimed they were "surprise" as they were under the impressions the penalties would be purely financial.

"The Executive Committee is said to be greatly surprised by the decisions taken by CAF," a statement read on their website.

"They do not correspond in any way to the conclusions of the first meeting in Cairo with the President of CAF."

The Moroccan Government initially demanded that the tournament be held in June due to concerns over the spread of the Ebola virus, and when the CAF refused to grant their request, the FRMF decided to opt against staging the competition.

Police were forced to intervene during Ghana's semi-final with hosts Equatorial Guinea amid violent scenes ©Getty Images



During the rearranged tournament in Equatorial Guinea, fans were tested for Ebola on entry to the stadiums, which caused long delays and some clashes between supporters and police.

The event was largely a success but was tainted somewhat by the incident in Ghana's semi-final with Equatorial Guinea, where Ghana fans and players were pelted by missiles thrown from the stands.

The match was delayed for over 30 minutes as the police used tear gas to try and suppress the violence, and at one point a helicopter began to circle the stadium in Malabo.

As a consequence, CAF ruled that the Equatorial Guinea Football Federation must cover the cost of treatment for all injured fans at the match, as well as a fine of $100,000 (£65,000/€88,000) for the behaviour of their supporters on what was another dark day for African football.

The 2015 tournament was won by Ivory Coast after they beat Ghana on penalties as they clinched their first title for 23 years.

Morocco's appeal to CAS is expected to take several months. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
February 2015: Morocco rejects $1 million fine and ban for withdrawing as Africa Cup of Nations hosts
February 2015: Morocco fined $1 million and banned from 2017 and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
November 2014: Equatorial Guinea to replace Morocco as Africa Cup of Nations hosts
November 2014: Morocco expelled from 2015 Africa Cup of Nations after refusal to host
November 2014: Morocco refuse to host African Nations Cup over Ebola fears