The adjudicatory chamber of the Fifa Ethics Commission on Tuesday sentenced the former president of the African Confederation (CAF), Issa Hayatou, to a one-year suspension from all football-related activities, due to a contract with Lagardère Sports contrary to competitive principles.
– this guaranteed to the French company the management of TV and marketing rights for the competitions organized by CAF until 2028.
The investigative chamber of the Fifa Ethics Commission was seized in March 2017 by Presentation Sport, also interested in these rights.
The investigation concluded that no call for tenders was carried out before the renewal of the contract with Lagardère Sports, CAF partner since 1993.
She also stressed that Issa Hayatou abused her position, by not involving several members of the CAF executive committee in the discussions.
It did not take into account either the refusal of some of them to draw up the contract with Lagardère Sports, especially since it ($ 1 billion for 2017-2028, or approximately EUR 900 million during force at the time of signing) was lower than Presentation Sport’s bid ($ 1.2 billion).
Issa Hayatou left the presidency of CAF in March 2017, after losing the elections to the Malagasy Ahmad Ahmad.
He also served as interim FIFA president between October 2015 and February 2016, after the suspension of Sepp Blatter, and until the election of Gianni Infantino.
Last January, CAF made him its honorary president.
Cameroon, Hayatou’s homeland, is hosting the next African Cup of Nations, from January 9 to February 6, 2022.
