Morocco has been stripped of the right to host next year's African Nations Cup of Football, and the Confederation of African Football is condering prospective replacements.
It has also disqualified Morocco from playing in the finals, which CAF says will go ahead as planned on the scheduled dates in January and February.
Moroccan footballers. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Morocco's removal as host follows its request for a postponement of the tournament over fears of the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.
Morocco believes thousands of travelling supporters from west Africa pose a risk and they wanted a postponement of at least six months while the fight against Ebola intensified.
The immediate future of the 16-team tournament, the showpiece of African football, remained unclear with no exact timetable for the next step in the bid to find an alternate host to Morocco.
CAF said it had received "some applications" from countries expressing a desire to step in as hosts on the scheduled dates, even though the practicalities of arranging a tournament of the size of the Nations Cup at such short notice seem daunting.
African soccer's governing body did not name the prospective candidates and there have been no public expressions of interest.
Angola, Egypt, Gabon and Nigeria were the countries being touted as possible replacement hosts by African media following today's statement.
Morocco believes thousands of travelling supporters from west Africa pose a risk and wanted a postponement of at least six months while the fight against Ebola intensified.
But CAF rejected any change to the planned dates citing a packed calendar.
CAF also announced it would seek legal redress from Morocco based on its contractual agreement with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation which was signed in April.
Moroccan football is also likely to be heavily sanctioned, including a likely ban from future Nations Cup competitions.
