Football icon Thierry Henry has issued a clear and passionate defense of African match officials, arguing that the solution to refereeing controversies is not to import talent, but to invest heavily in local expertise.
The comments come amid widespread discussion about the standard of officiating at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations. While some have suggested bringing in top referees from Europe, Henry firmly believes the tournament must remain in African hands.
“This is an African tournament, and it should be officiated by African referees,” the former French international stated. “I believe that African referees must be given the opportunity.”
Henry was quick to shift the focus away from criticizing individual referees. Instead, he pointed to a systemic failure in their preparation and training.
“I don’t blame the referees themselves,” he explained. “I blame those who fail to prepare and train them to match the level of football we are witnessing. This is the heart of the problem.”
He emphasized that the dazzling skill and increased speed seen in African football today demand referees who can keep pace. The current mistakes, he argued, are damaging the reputation of a continent capable of brilliance.
“What I mean is that specialists should be sent to raise their standards and develop their skills,” Henry proposed. “Because mistakes are happening repeatedly, and this negatively impacts the image of the tournament.”
The Arsenal legend concluded with a sobering point: the football itself is too often overshadowed by debates over decisions. This, he says, does a disservice to the players and the competition.
“Often, the tournament itself is criticised when the fault lies neither with the competition nor the players nor the teams,” Henry noted. “It is an issue that requires change in order to provide a better tournament—and that issue is refereeing.”
For Thierry Henry, the path to a flawless tournament is not found in outsourcing, but in empowering and elevating Africa’s own officials through sustained, high-level support and education.