International Football
Egypt Drags Hayatou’s CAF To “EFCC”
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
More opposition to the re-election of Issa Hayatou as CAF President seems to have emerged as the host country to CAF Secretariat appears to have come up with a noose round the Cameroonian’s neck.
With the CAF election holding this week amidst the toughest opposition Hayatou is facing in 29 years, the Egyptian government are planning charges against the Hayatou-led executive board at the Egyptian Economic Court, Nigeria’s equivalent of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Already, CAF is crying foul over what it referred to as unsubstantiated charges and allegations, especially coming in the days leading to the CAF elections.
In a lengthy 716-word statement issued by CAF and made available to Sports Village Square, the confederation dismissed the charges and allegations presented by the Egyptian Competition Authority which, led to the Public Prosecutor for Financial and Commercial Affairs referring CAF, its President and Secretary General to the Egyptian Economic Court.
According to the statement from CAF, the genesis of the allegation was the renewal of the appointment of Lagardère Sports as marketing and media agency for Africa up to 2028.
CAF statements said the body acted following an extensive period of negotiations.
“A legally binding agreement was signed by the parties in June 2015 and was unanimously approved by the CAF Executive Committee.
“In commercial terms, the deal represented an enormous increase in the revenues guaranteed to CAF for its marketing and media rights, which secures significant and guaranteed funds for the benefit of African football over the next 12 years.
“Further, with an unrivalled track record in delivering African football for over 22 years, Lagardère Sports is also an agency that can deliver and execute CAF’s vast programme of events – including the Africa Cup of Nations, the African Nations Championship and the African Champions League.”
The deal is reportedly to be $1 billion. But Egypt in January accused CAF of failing to open up the tender to free and fair competition as required under Egyptian law.
It was however speculated that the exclusion of new Egyptian marketing firm, Presentation Advertising Agency which submitted a superior offer could be the reason for the Egyptian government’s action.
But CAF countered this, stating that the Egyptian company’s offer was not only belated, it was also “to acquire outright the marketing and media rights held by CAF, which were never for sale and the very holding of such agency rights”. CAF asserted that it would be in violation of the Egyptian company’s own articles of association.
CAF in its statement claims that the timing of the Egyptian Competition Authority’s media campaign also underlines organisation’s attempt to disrupt and undermine CAF at the time of its presidential elections.
Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.
They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.
“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.
The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.
While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.
Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.
-Reuters
FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.
Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.
“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”
FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.
Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.
-Reuters
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.
Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.
“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.
After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.
Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.
-Reuters
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