The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is considering prohibiting goalkeepers from placing towels inside their goalposts following a series of incidents involving fans at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The issue gained prominence after several matches were disrupted by clashes between players and spectators, with fans moving dangerously close to the goal area to retrieve towels left behind the net.
Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali and Senegal captain Édouard Mendy were among the goalkeepers who confronted supporters during tense moments that attracted widespread attention.
In response, CAF’s Referees Committee has intervened, with its president, Olivier Safari Kebene, stressing that the matter extends beyond crowd behaviour and directly concerns the Laws of the Game.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday, Kebene said referees have been directed to strictly apply existing regulations that require the pitch to be free of unauthorised objects.
“This is very straightforward. The Laws of the Game clearly state that the field of play must be free of any foreign objects that are not part of a player’s equipment,” Kebene said. “A towel does not qualify as player equipment. It is not a jersey, shorts, or gloves.”
While acknowledging that goalkeepers often use towels—especially in hot or humid conditions—to dry their hands and improve grip, CAF maintains that safety and fairness must take precedence.
“We understand the practical reasons, but these items must not be kept in the goal area. They should be placed behind advertising boards or left with team officials,” Kebene added.
CAF also warned that towels placed near goalposts or tucked into the net could cause problems during play, including distracting opponents, obstructing referees’ views of the goal line, or even interfering with the ball in critical moments.
The AFCON matches in Morocco further exposed another concern, as towels became a catalyst for fans encroaching into sensitive areas of the pitch.
In multiple cases, supporters leaned into the goalmouth to collect towels, provoking angry reactions from goalkeepers and raising renewed concerns about stadium security and player safety.
Although CAF has yet to announce an official rule change or blanket ban, the governing body’s position suggests stricter enforcement is imminent. Referees are expected to be more alert, and teams may soon be required to modify their match-day routines to ensure no personal items are left near the goal.