Olivier Safari Kabane, the DR Congo-based head of CAF’s referee committee, has signaled a crackdown on goalkeepers using towels to disrupt the flow of play.
Emphasizing that such items are not official equipment, Kabane stressed that while towels are permitted for hygiene, they must not be used as tools for gamesmanship or tactical delays.
Addressing the need for integrity on the pitch, he asserted:
“A towel is not part of a player’s or goalkeeper’s equipment. When a goalkeeper carries a towel, I believe it should be done in a very sporting manner, with fair play. As soon as it starts to influence the game, I think that towel should be removed from the playing area.”