Hayatou stays off FIFA pre-election campaigning

Acting FIFA president Issa Hayatou has given up some of his powers as head of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after accusations of one of the candidates for the presidency of FIFA, the governing body said on Monday.

The decision comes two days after a red flag was raised by Prince Ali, one of five contenders for the presidency of FIFA, on the signing of a Cooperation Agreement between the African and Asian Confederations chaired by Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, who is also a candidate.

Officials have argued there is no connection between the decision and the accusations of Ali.

CAF’s Executive Committee Saturday voted to allow its vice presidents Suketu Patel and Almamy Kabele Camara to be responsible for relations between the African football body, other Confederations, and candidates until the FIFA elections are held.

Patel and Camara, CAF says, will therefore be at the head of the African delegation at the Zurich elections on February 26.

“The president, in agreement with the Executive Committee, just wants to wear only his cap as FIFA president during the electoral process, the final stage began on January 26 with the final list of candidates,” said a spokesman of CAF Junior Binyam.

Prior to that, CAF will take a decision on who to throw its weight behind during an executive Committee meeting of FIFA on February 5.

Other FIFA candidates are the Swiss Gianni Infantino, UEFA No.2, South African Tokyo Sexwale and French former FIFA official Jerome Champagne.