Suspended FIFA Vice-President and President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Ahmad Ahmad has on Wednesday revealed plans to appeal a five-year ban imposed on him by football governing body, FIFA.
The Madagascan, who held his position as CAF President since his election in March 2017 says he will appeal the ban slapped on him for corruption by football’s global governing body FIFA, at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Ahmad, suspended on Monday for “governance issues”, tweeted: “I challenge the sanction that has been imposed. Beyond my case, it is the self-determination of football in Africa that is under attack.
“This decision was not rendered in a fair and impartial manner,” his statement concluded.
The 60-year-old’s hopes of re-election in 2021 as CAF President has now been left hanging and according to the statement, his CAS appeal is in an attempt to enable Ahmad to run his campaign.
Also part of his sanction by FIFA was a fine of 200,000 Swiss francs (NGN84,021,560) for offenses relating to “the organisation and financing of an Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca” as well as an alleged connection to the African Confederation’s dealings with sports equipment company.
Ahmad had denied all allegations against him and stood down from his post as CAF’s number one man for 20 days after returning a positive Covid-19 test.
CAF have also responded to Ahmad’s ban by saying that interim President Constant Omari’s position would be extended, without a specific timeframe.
A year ago, former CAF official Amr Fahmy, through a letter to FIFA, accused Ahmad of offenses ranging across bribery, misuse of CAF funds, and sexual harassment.
Two months after Amr’s accusations, as part of a corruption probe, Ahmad was arrested in Paris while on official assignment at the FIFA Congress, ahead of the France 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, but was released 24-hours later without charge.
Shameless.
Corruption everywhere
He should fix up or stay away