CAF President Ahmad banned for five years

By
Sammy Wejinya
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(FILES) In this file photo taken on January 21, 2020 Ahmad Ahmad, President of the Confederation of African Football, speaks during the CAF draw, for the second round of Confederation of African Football (CAF) matches for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, in the Egyptian capital Cairo. - The Fifa Ethics Commission suspended the President of the African Confederation Ahmad Ahmad for five years, fining him in addition 200,000 Swiss francs (185,000 euros), mainly on charges of embezzlement. The 60-year-old Madagascan leader, at the head of African football since March 2017 and candidate for a second term, was also placed in police custody on suspicion of corruption in June 2019 in Paris. (Photo by Mohamed el-Shahed / AFP)
(FILES) In this file photo taken on January 21, 2020, Ahmad Ahmad, President of the Confederation of African Football, speaks during the CAF draw, for the second round of Confederation of African Football (CAF) matches for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, in the Egyptian capital Cairo. Photo by Mohamed el-Shahed / AFP

The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has been banned for the next five years by the world football governing body, FIFA.

Fifa’s adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee announced the sanctions after ruling that Ahmad breached various codes of ethics. The 60-year-old from Madagascar has been found to have breached codes relating to duty of loyalty, offering and accepting gifts, abuse of position as well as misappropriation of funds.  
“The investigation into Mr Ahmad’s conduct … from 2017 to 2019 concerned various Caf-related governance issues, including the organisation and financing of ah Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca, his involvement in Caf’s dealing with the sports equipment company Tactical Steel and other activities,” a Fifa statement read.  

Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Ahmad Ahmad attends a press conference in Cairo on July 18, 2019 on the eve of the 2019 football Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Final between Senegal and Algeria. (Photo by Mohamed el-Shahed / AFP)


Mr Ahmad, a Fifa vice-president, has previously denied any wrongdoing.  Last month, the Fifa vice-president from Madagascar announced his intention to go for a second term in office when Caf elections take place next March.  

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