Share

Blatter gets African backing

Cairo - Sepp Blatter has won more support on Monday as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) advised their members to back the FIFA president in his re-election bid.

However, the African endorsement was less emphatic than the unanimous support Blatter received from football leaders in Europe, South America and Oceania.

"Following a secret ballot, the CAF executive committee voted in majority to support the incumbent (Blatter)," the African governing body said in a statement.

Qatari challenger Mohamed bin Hammam is expected to get widespread support from the 53-nation region when FIFA's 208 members vote in their own secret ballot on June 1 in Zurich.

Bin Hammam made two campaign trips to Africa last month and earned goodwill when Qatar's 2022 World Cup bid sponsored the 2010 CAF general assembly.

The CAF ruling panel showed more unity in giving "full support and solidarity" to two of their four FIFA delegates who face bribery allegations.

Issa Hayatou, the CAF president, and Jacques Anouma have been accused in England of taking $1.5 million bribes to vote for Qatar's winning bid last December.

CAF said the allegations are "unfounded" after they were published by British lawmakers last week using evidence from a newspaper investigation.

"The members rejected vigorously the irresponsible statements, without proof, made by The Sunday Times before the British parliament," the Hayatou-led executive committee said.

Hayatou, a 21-year incumbent of FIFA's high command from Cameroon, and Anouma, who joined FIFA in 2007 from Ivory Coast, deny any wrongdoing.

British lawmakers also released the newspaper's previously unpublished claims that Qatari payments were arranged by an African middleman, Amadou Diallo, who had been an aide to Hayatou.

FIFA have asked England's Football Association to help provide supporting evidence before they investigate possible unethical behavior.

The FIFA ethics committee previously suspended four African officials using evidence from an earlier Sunday Times undercover probe.

In the highest profile case, Nigerian official Amos Adamu received a three-year ban for soliciting bribes.

Adamu was barred from voting in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup contests and later lost his seat on the FIFA and CAF executive committees. He has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Amadou Diakite from Mali and Tunisian lawyer Slim Aloulou left the CAF ruling panel this year while serving FIFA suspensions. Diakite has appealed to CAS.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1472 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2251 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE