CAF Clarifies Misconceptions About TV and Commercial Rights for Its Competitions and World Cup Qualifiers
In light of recent misleading media reports, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has issued an official clarification to distinguish between the commercial rights of its own competitions and the centralization of TV rights for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifiers.
According to CAF, some media outlets have inaccurately linked the marketing of CAF competitions’ commercial rights with the TV rights centralization process for the World Cup qualifiers, creating unnecessary confusion and misinformation.
CAF reminds stakeholders and the public of the following:
CAF’s Exclusive Rights Over Its Own Competitions
Articles 58 and 59 of the CAF statutes designate CAF as the exclusive holder of commercial rights for all competitions it organizes, including preliminary and final phases of the Africa Cup of Nations, the CAF Champions League, and other tournaments.
CAF alone decides the nature and extent of rights exploitation, and is entitled to delegate these rights to partners as it sees fit, in line with international commercial standards.
CAF condemned the notion that it cannot sign commercial contracts for its own competitions as “absurd.”
FIFA Owns TV Rights for World Cup Qualifiers
For the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifiers, FIFA owns all TV and sponsorship rights, which are then transferred to each of its member associations.
During the 2014 qualifiers, CAF coordinated a voluntary centralization of these rights on behalf of its member associations. This initiative proved highly beneficial: 50 out of 54 associations earned greater revenue than if they had marketed their rights independently.
Based on this success, member associations unanimously endorsed the renewal of the centralization model for the 2018 edition — first in São Paulo (June 2014) and then reaffirmed in Cairo (April 2015).
No Obligation Imposed on Member Associations
CAF emphasizes that this centralization remains voluntary, with no obligation for any member association to participate.
As of now, 51 associations have formally committed to participate in the 2018 centralization process, recognizing its financial advantages.
Conclusion
CAF urges stakeholders and media to clearly differentiate between:
CAF-organized competitions, where CAF retains full commercial control, and
The FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where CAF operates under mandate from willing member associations to centralize rights for their collective benefit.
The clarification aims to counter disinformation, protect CAF’s image, and maintain transparency in the governance of African football’s commercial interests.
Source: cafonline.com
