FIFA Delegation Concludes Visit to Benin Amid Football Governance Dispute
A FIFA delegation has concluded its mission to Benin, where it sought to address a growing dispute between the country’s government and its Football Federation. The team, led by FIFA official Primo Corvaro, arrived in Cotonou on May 3 and departed on Tuesday for neighbouring Togo, where it is expected to carry out a similar assessment.
The visit was prompted by concerns of political interference in the affairs of the Benin Football Federation (FBF), a violation of FIFA’s statutes which strictly prohibit government involvement in the management of national football associations.
During its stay, the FIFA mission held meetings with various sports stakeholders to assess whether the government had unduly influenced football administration in Benin. Preliminary findings, based on collected documents and testimonies, suggest that the FBF continues to function in line with its internal statutes—despite the ongoing political tensions.
Speaking to the press before departure, Corvaro offered insights into FIFA’s approach and the possible consequences for Benin.
“Our Commission is familiar with these types of missions,” he said. “National associations often face either interference or internal disputes. But in this case, we came primarily to investigate allegations of interference.”
Corvaro stressed that FIFA had no immediate intention to impose sanctions, although it remains vigilant. “We did not want to automatically sanction Benin,” he explained. “However, certain political powers—sometimes just weeks before scheduled congresses—create difficulties that prevent elected officials from fulfilling their roles at both the continental and global level.”
He added that if any sanction were to be applied, it would not trigger the installation of a normalization committee, a tool FIFA occasionally uses to manage crises in federations. “If there is a sanction, it is pointless to assume a normalization committee will be formed to hold new elections,” Corvaro warned. “The only condition for a return to normal is the reinstatement of the executive team that was in office at the time of the suspension, so they can complete their mandate.”
FIFA is expected to deliver a final verdict during its upcoming General Assembly next week. The outcome could have significant implications for Benin’s participation in international football activities and the stability of the FBF.
This latest episode adds to a growing list of governance challenges in African football, where questions of political interference and internal federation disputes have frequently drawn FIFA’s attention. As the global body continues to monitor the situation, all eyes in Benin now turn to Zurich for the final decision.
