Ex-Africa Football Boss Hayatou Mute over €24.5M Fine

Erstwhile Africa football president Issa Hayatou is tight-lipped over the €24.5M fine imposed on him recently.

The veteran Cameroonian football administrator on Monday incurred the wrath of a court in Cairo after being found guilty of breaking Egypt’s laws on anti-monopoly.

The 72-year-old was found wanting along with ex-Secretary General, Egyptian-born Hicham El-Amrani, for failing to entertain bidding competition when they sold out broadcasting rights to French firm Lagardere Sports in a contract running for 11 years.

Issa, who presided over the Confederation of African Football for over two decades before losing his post to Ahmed Ahmed last year, has yet to speak over the matter three days following the ruling.

Egyptian company Presentation Sports had lined up throwing their hat in the ring in the race for the rights but found negotiations had long been finalised between the then CAF head and the aforesaid firm in 2015.

The situation led to Presentation lodging a complaint to the North African country’s Authority for Fair Play competition who pushed the matter to Cairo Economic Court.

CAF had then denied wrongdoing vowing to defend itself before any court.

However, Hayatou’s successor Madagascar’s Ahmed has revealed plans of setting up a commission to renegotiate the deal which Lagardere have also expressed interest in complying with.