ICYMI: Ceferin accuses Infantino of plot to take over African football

Aleksander Ceferin, Uefa president, has accused Gianni Infantino, Fifa president, of a plot to take over African football with the appointment of Fatma Samoura as “general delegate for Africa”.

He also accused Infantino of reducing the Fifa’s  Bureau of Council to a “rubber stamp” function.

Ceferin’s accusation is coming on the heels of the recent development of Fifa appointing a “General Delegate for Africa” in a bid to help improve Caf’s governance.

The Uefa head chief revealed that Infantino’s letter gave him just 90 minutes to sign in other to ratify the decision and that it was sent “in the middle of the night”.

According to Daily Mail UK, both powerful men in world football are at loggerheads over the rationale behind setting up such a committee to oversee the continent’s activities.

Infantino’s letter to Ceferin reads: “In light of the current exceptional situation facing CAF (Confederation of African Football), we are requesting the Bureau of the Council to support the decision to appoint, on a temporary basis, a FIFA General Delegate for Africa, acting under the authority of both CAF and FIFA.

“The aim of this mission is amongst others to lead a team providing the relevant expertise, ensuring that the necessary reforms are implemented within CAF at all levels.

“Tasks will also include reviewing the operational management of CAF, including governance and administrative procedures, ensuring the efficient and professional organization of all CAF competitions and supporting the growth and development of football in all countries and regions of CAF.

“The proposed FIFA General Delegate for Africa is Fatma Samoura, current FIFA Secretary General.

Fifa called the move an “exceptional and temporary measure” as it outlined the precise role the former United Nations official will take.

While Fifa is used to appointing so-called “Normalisation Committees” to run member associations that require help, it is unusual for it to assist a confederation in similar difficulties.

Infantino added that the proposal had the support of CAF President Ahmad and that Samoura would continue in her role at FIFA but would ‘delegate her functions within the FIFA administration in accordance with the relevant internal regulations’.

The Uefa chief strongly opposed the proposal due to lack of official document backing it up from Caf.

He also criticized the limited time given in other to scrutinize the proposed idea if it is in line with both Fifa and Caf’s statutes in other to avoid “possible conflicts of interest.”

“I understand the CAF’s current difficult situation and welcome the efforts undertaken by all parties to improve it,” Ceferin’s letter said.

“However, even with the best will in the world to help CAF, I cannot for the time being approve the detailed proposal set out in your letter.

Having outlined the four main issues with Infantino’s proposal, he concluded:

“For these various reasons, I am sure you will fully understand that, in the current state of affairs and without additional information from you, I cannot approve the proposal set out in your letter sent to the FIFA Bureau of the Council members to appoint a FIFA General Delegate for Africa.”

Barely hours after Ceferin’s refusal to sign the proposal, Fifa confirmed Fatma Samoura’s appointment as the body’s “General Delegate for Africa,” the statement said.

“It was also agreed that Fifa and Caf will undertake as soon as possible a full forensic audit of Caf.

The statement added that Ahmad proposed Fifa’s “expertise to assess the current situation in the African governing body … to ensure that Caf functions with transparency [and] efficiency while abiding to the highest governance”.

Samoura will be assisted by several experts “in a spirit of partnership with President Ahmad and his team.

“To oversee operational management of Caf, including governance and administrative procedures.

“To ensure the efficient and professional organization of all Caf competitions.

“To support the growth and development of football in all countries and regions of Caf.

These roles, which will run until at least 31 January, were approved unanimously by Caf’s ExCo.