By: Kwame Bediako
Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traoré has received a $10,000 fine from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for his post-match comments criticizing Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea following the Stallions’ 1-0 defeat to Algeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
CAF’s disciplinary committee deemed Traoré’s remarks offensive and below the standards expected of a national team captain at a major tournament.
The Sunderland forward faced charges after publicly questioning Laryea’s decisions in the Group E clash, including a first-half penalty awarded to Algeria and an earlier incident he felt deserved VAR review.
“I think there was a penalty on me in the first action of the match. The referee didn’t even check VAR,” Traoré stated at the time, fueling controversy around the officiating by the Ghanaian referee.
During the hearing, Traoré adopted a conciliatory tone, apologizing for his comments and explaining that his frustration arose from the match’s intensity.
He emphasized no intent to undermine CAF or disrespect officials, leading to a sanction limited to the monetary fine with no sporting penalties like suspensions.
The Burkina Faso Football Federation has accepted the ruling, confirming the $10,000 penalty as the full measure.
The decision underscores CAF’s stance on player conduct while allowing Traoré to continue competing without further restrictions.
