It is always obvious that the search for a fair balance between two extremes never achieves the “break-even”, even if it remains essential in the humanization of relations at the level of decision-makers, and by extension, between men. The rejection of infantilizing paternalism is a prerequisite for any debate for the harmonization of “job descriptions”. Once left untreated, this paternalism dictates decisions to those in power, which is an abuse of power. The Confederation of African Football shall endeavour to avoid the stranglehold by FIFA in the affairs relating to administration and management of football body on the continent, as well as to defining the framework and the context of its sporadic and intermittent intervention.
They were once staunch friends of the Good Shepherd Infantino, today Ahmad and Omari are a bunch of detractors whom Infantino wants to get rid of because they do not do his will. As often, political games are ruthless, and the power shadow comes to damn taint this old friendship between these three men. Now far from the spotlight, Ahmad Ahmad and Constant Omari, President and Vice-President of CAF, respectively, find themselves in the dirty sheets of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who plays firefighters duty, whereas he pushes his news protégés, the South African Patrice Motsepe and Mauritanian Yahya, unbolting the Ahmad-Omari-Lekjaa triumvirate in Cairo, CAF headquarters, following march 12th, 2021 election in Rabat.
Obviously, Infantino uses the mouse strategy; a practice reminiscent of the policy of the mouse which, according to popular beliefs, bites the sleeper on the foot and then blows on it to smoothen the pain and prevent the victim from awakening. But this time it is different. The following will provide proof thereof. The once amazing relationship has become erratic, with its ups and downs at a time of stakes for the future of African football.
It is still early days to forget that Ahmad Ahmad was sanctioned on November 19, 2020 by FIFA and banned from being active in football-related matters. Tampering and breaches of the Code of Ethics are brought against the former president of the football federation in Madagascar. Fortunately, the former member of the Malagasy government took all the necessary steps to appeal the judgment to CAS – the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Against all odds, on Friday January 29, 2020 and in full CHAN, CAS announced that “it has accepted the request to temporarily suspend the effects of the decision by the Judging Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee until the pronouncement of the verdict … this because of a risk of irreparable damage for Ahmad in the event that the disciplinary sanction would be maintained during the period preceding the CAF elections”. It is necessary to understand by the CAS pronouncement that Ahmad is authorized to campaign, but not to be a candidate. “The CAS has implemented an accelerated hearing procedure and has set the hearing date for March 02, 2021, with a reserve day set for March 03, 2021“, added the press release to the media by CAS.
This soporific turn suggests that there would be a witch hunt led by FIFA within CAF, according to Alain Foka who had the privilege of a tête-à-tête with the Interim President of CAF, Constant Omari Selemani, on the sidelines of the CHAN competition in Cameroon, on January 28, 2021. Throat tight, the boss of Football in DRC is not keen to express himself about the matter, but he quickly become disillusioned, and very upset, not willing to be just an expiatory victim. “On the other hand, where their demarches clutch at straws, and what I consider as abnormal is the creation of new case law without knowing its deep origins as well as its scope. It is very disconcerting that at the time of my application… that on the basis of mere suspicions as well as allegations, the Governance Committee has already turned them into severe accusations, which would give rise to questioning. Secondly, investigations are still ongoing and pending at the level of the Ethics Committee, it is well known that the alleged culprit enjoys the benefits of the universal principle of law, which is Innocent until Proven Guilty. Is it possible that suspicions only give rise to the charges confirmation?” replied Constant Omari Selemani.
It is an in absentia judgment conviction without trial that outraged the FIFA Council member. Logic rationality comes up against ambivalences of double-speed FIFA justice depending on the pedigree of parties that stand accused. In his capacity as FIFA Vice-President and CAF Interim President, Omari expects from the Governance Committee the detailed transmission of the severe accusations brought against him, and which were decisive in the decision-making by this Committee, concerning the invalidation of his candidacy for the seat of Member of the FIFA Council. He would like to face the evidence of any judgment (of which he is not aware) already handed down by the Ethics Committee so that he, in return, shall react.
Surprisingly Constant’s consternation is justified by the fact that on January 25, 2021, he sent his last detailed justifications to the Ethics Commission, and in less than 24 hours later, that is to say that on January 26, 2021 early, the same motivated explanations provided, were raised as charges with an aggravating element. In this case, there is premeditation in the establishment of charges definition by this very Ethics Committee against Constant Omari. It is felt that the Commission did not have sufficient time to examine, analyze and qualify the applicant’s explanations though provided.
Alain Foka raised a relevant detail pertaining to allegations levied against Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, which never resulted in his suspension as in the cases of Ahmad Ahmad and Constant Omari. It would never be pure coincidence or outrageous coincidence when Africans think there is a manhunt in FIFA’s actions; Infantino, who is implicated in Fifagate and certain allegations relating to investigations he allegedly commissioned against his subordinates, remains in office as if the string of allegations against him were just a mere imagination product. Constant Omari is not best suited to support this opinion, so much he is still Lieutenant of General Gianni; their personal and professional friendships enjoying a privileged characteristic, this justified his restraint, at least for him, truly speaking. Infantino has nothing to gain in giving a damn about friendships with Africans, whom he brushes aside with the back of his hand and a slight crippling. He seems to have succeeded in his tactical ambush by plunging both CAF executives into his game bag.
Considering the hypothesis that grievances alleged against Ahmad Ahmad would solidify over the course of investigations for hearing on March 2, 2021, it would not be a happenstance to voice opinions in various directions and cry fool for non-prosecution of Ahmad Ahmad whose name had come up in the Fifagate affair with the Mohammed bin Hammam scenario. Therein, it was reported that Madagascar’s FA President Ahmad at the time, fraudulently pocketed $ 100,000.00 in bribe from the Qatari administrator and former President of the Confederation of Asian Football. These facts took place in 2014 during campaigns for the election of FIFA President and the publication of host countries for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups. Both situations have opened eyes about illegal initiative to have Ahmad investigated/prosecuted this time around by the FIFA Ethics Committee for allegedly paying $ 82,000.00 to assist football associations officials in Africa with their pilgrimage to Mecca. Here the amount is lesser than that which he was not prosecuted/investigated for or subjected to legal proceedings (the Bin Hammann case). A “double standard” justice or the witch hunt legal system that is only applicable to Africans by FIFA and its committees; a devastating and outrageous neo-colonialism that paints an awkward portray of Africans’ dignity and reduces Africa to its simplest form.
The non-disclosure right being the order of the day, Constant Omari is politely observant and respectful of underlying principles for the functioning mechanisms of football governing bodies and institutions. It is clear that Constant Omari’s modesty is of essence while Gianni Infantino, the FIFA President, indulges in poncepilatism. As a true arsonist, Gianni makes people believe that he has been suppressing the fire which he has started himself against leaders within CAF. Africa football can no longer be fooled; Africans know that it was Mr Infantino who convinced CAF hierarchy to terminate Lagardère contract as CAF TV marketing Rights Holder, worth $ 1 billion over a period of 12 years during the time of CAF presidency by Issa Hayatou. The boss of the world football body convinced CAF leaders that he has already found a replacement for Lagardère who would bring in a lucrative jackpot- 3 times more than money paid by Lagardere conglomerate. Seen as milking cow to replace the French corporate, Chinese Telecommunications Company, Wanda, is still expected to be jetting in Cairo, but to no avail, unfortunately.
Such delaying maneuvers initiated by Infantino are necessarily sufficient proof to believe in the subservience of CAF through many techniques including vassalage, denials and shenanigans in order to ensure its subjectivity (CAF) to the authority of one person; CAF is not a member of FIFA. The appointment of Fatma Samoura, FIFA Secretary General, on secondment to CAF in August 2019, remains a powerful manifestation of Infantino’s neocolonialist control over CAF. Ahmad and Omari have decided against offering a permanent position to the Senegalese, whose appalling skills have deceived Infantino since her arrival at FIFA Headquarters in Zurich.
While the deal with Lagardère sounded the death knell and since investigations reveal that Wanda awaits certain guarantees to affirm and confirm its commitment, the southern zone of Africa is deprived of live broadcasting or delay of African competitions. CAF competitions are not “broadcast” either “live” or delayed in South Africa, Lesotho, Eswateni (formerly Swaziland), Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe since this unilateral termination of contractual obligations by CAF under Gianni’s influence. This translates into another shortfall that deprives the southern region populations from being privileged witnesses of continental football evolution.
It is crucial times for candidates vying for the CAF Presidency seat, who multiply and sharpen their strategies for the election of March 12, 2021 in Rabat, to stay watchful. At the same time it is regrettable to indicate that the South African and Mauritanian candidates, Patrice Motsepe and Ahmed Ould Yahya, have agreed to appoint Fatma Samoura as CAF General Secretary in case they are elected, in exchange for the support that Infantino will provide them for their electoral campaigns robustness. The Senegalese Augustin Senghor and the Ivorian Jacques Anouma, have vetoed this feudal attitude by belittling Gianni.
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