Suspended CAF President Ahmad To Appeal FIFA Ban

Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Ahmad Ahmad has confirmed he intends to appeal his five-year banned imposed by FIFA on Monday.

He was found guilty of “breaching codes relating to duty of loyalty, offering and accepting gifts, and abuse of position as well as misappropriation of funds”, according to the world football governing body.

Ahmad, a former head of Madagascar’s Football Association, was also fined 200,000 Swiss Francs ($220,000) as part of his punishment.

FIFA say Ahmad is banned from all football-related activities following an investigation which started in 2019.

Ahmad said he will challenge the decision as his legal team is preparing for a formal submission at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

“I challenge the sanction that has been imposed. Beyond my case, it is the self-determination of football in Africa that is under attack,” the 60-year-old posted on Twitter.

“This decision was not rendered in a fair and impartial manner,” added a statement from him.

Ahmad, who was made a FIFA vice-president after being elected the head of CAF, had previously denied the accusations stating he had no control over finances at the confederation.

He was elected in March 2017 after defeating long-serving president Issa Hayatou, who had been in office for 29 years.

He stood for the presidency then on a platform promising administrative reform, financial transparency and a potential competitions reorganization.