Accra, Nov 25, GNA – Mr. Ahmad Ahmad, a former President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said he will appeal against a five-year ban imposed on him by the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA).
Mr. Ahmad, who was also a former Vice-President of FIFA said in a statement that, his counsels were filing an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in order to firmly contest the sentence pronounced by the Adjudicatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee.
A sanction of a 5-year ban from exercising any activity related to football – at national and international level – as well as a fine of CHF 200,000 ($220,063.00) was pronounced by the Adjudicatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee, on Monday November 23 2020, against the former President of CAF and FIFA Vice-President.
According to his statement; “the decision was not rendered in a fair and impartial manner. During the months of investigation conducted by the Investigatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee, headed by Mrs. Maria Claudia Rojas, against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and its President, many surprising procedures have been noted”.
“Thus, FIFA gave a mandate to the audit firm PwC to investigate the administration of African football, even though this firm had been working for CAF and under mandate from the latter, thus creating a conflict of interest and a problem of obvious lack of impartiality.
In addition, rumours about the possible involvement of FIFA in the work of the Ethics Committee have constantly resounded in the European and African press. Leaks of information relating to the ongoing procedure – which is supposed to be strictly confidential – and systematically unfavourable to President Ahmad, have been made public through the press, preventing, in fact, a serene investigation from taking place. Even the hearing of President Ahmad, who was notably refused the right to examine some of his witnesses during a hearing conducted at the prosecution’s double pace, was not held according to the expected and usual standards,” the statement continued.
Mr. Ahmad noted that as a result of irregularities in the investigation, the facts were presented in a highly questionable manner by the Investigatory Chamber to the Adjudicatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee.
He added that, the Committee hastened to issue an urgent and immediately enforceable decision, without providing the grounds of the sentence, despite its seriousness.
“The reason for such haste could be that this sentence would prevent President Ahmad from being re-elected to the presidency of CAF in the elections scheduled for March 2021, despite the many supporters already declared in his favour,” portion of the statement read.
“An Appeal will therefore be made before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to challenge this incomprehensible and shocking decision.
Furthermore, he will request for the stay of the decision, so as not to aggravate the prejudice he is suffering, and allow him to campaign for his re-election to the Presidency of CAF.”
GNA