Confederation of African Football president, Ahmad Ahmad, has been handed a five-year ban from football and/or any football-related activities after being found wanting by FIFA’s Independent Ethics Committee.
Ahmad was also fined 200,000 Swiss Francs as part of his sanction.
The adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s Independent Ethics Committee charged the Madagascan with offenses cutting across abuse of office, misappropriation of funds, and offering gifts and other benefits as CAF President and FIFA Vice-President.
In the wake of the CAF elections last month, Ahmad made known his intentions to run for a second term in office but had to hand over to CAF vice-president, Constant Omari, as he struggled to shake off his coronavirus infection.
FIFA’s official statement read: “The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has found Ahmad Ahmad, the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and a FIFA Vice-President, guilty of having breached art. 15 (Duty of loyalty), art. 20 (Offering and accepting gifts or other benefits) and art. 25 (Abuse of position) of the 2020 edition of the FIFA Code of Ethics, as well as art. 28 (Misappropriation of funds) of the 2018 edition”
“The investigation into Mr. Ahmad’s conduct in his position as CAF President during the period from 2017 to 2019 concerning various CAF-related governance issues, including the organisation and financing of an Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca, his involvement in CAF’s dealings with the sports equipment company Tactical Steel and other activities.”
“In its decision, following an extensive hearing, the adjudicatory chamber ruled that, based on information gathered by the investigatory chamber, Mr. Ahmad had breached his duty of loyalty, offered gifts and other benefits, mismanaged funds and abused his position as the CAF President, pursuant to the FIFA Code of Ethics.”
“Consequently, the adjudicatory chamber found that Mr. Ahmad had breached arts 15, 20 and 25 of the current edition of the FIFA Code of Ethics, as well as art. 28 of the 2018 edition, and sanctioned him with a ban from all football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level for five years. In addition, a fine in the amount of CHF 200,000 has been imposed on Mr. Ahmad.”
The CAF election is scheduled for 12 March 2021 in Rabat, Morocco.
When Ahmad was elected in 2017, which saw him oust FIFA senior vice president Issa Hayatou after 29 years, he had been supported by FIFA leaders in Zurich.
Will they prosecute him as well. Disgraceful.
When this thing wan end sef