Caf’s Infantino backing raises questions over governance and transparency

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has reaffirmed its support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino, despite its own insistence that governance, due process and transparency are “crucial and non-negotiable”.

Caf president Patrice Motsepe made the comments in a statement issued by the organisation on Thursday, saying: “For us in Africa, adherence to governance, due process and transparency is crucial and non-negotiable.”

The statement added: “The Caf exco also unanimously reconfirmed its support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino and thanked him for his support for African Football, over the years.”

That declaration raises the question of what Somali referee Omar Artan would make of Caf’s position.

Artan was denied the opportunity to officiate at the Fifa World Cup after the United States government blocked him from entering the country. Infantino was criticised for kneeling before US President Donald Trump and saying ‘yes, baas’ as the referee was prevented from taking part.

Questions have also been raised over reports that Infantino privately sought an agreement to sell a 20% stake in a World Cup operating company to the brother of Trump’s son-in-law.

Motsepe described Infantino as having been “loyal to Africa”. But that claim is difficult to reconcile with decisions made during Infantino’s time as Fifa president.

His expanded Club World Cup forced last year’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) to move to a different date in the football calendar. The Afcon, once staged every two years, is now set to become a quadrennial tournament.

The issue is whether Infantino’s alleged loyalty has benefited Africa or primarily served his own interests. The treatment of Artan, who had worked towards the opportunity to officiate at a World Cup, suggests the latter, critics argue.

In-depth reports by several international publications have also alleged that the proposed sale of part of the World Cup operation to a venture capitalist close to the US president was pursued without transparency and without proper due process.

Motsepe’s latest statement came two weeks after he described Infantino’s “loyal to Africa” position. Caf’s executive committee, however, unanimously confirmed its support for the Fifa president.

There is no suggestion that Caf should automatically support Uefa, whose leaders want Infantino removed as Fifa president. Africa’s caution towards the European football authorities is understandable, given Uefa’s historically dismissive treatment of the continent.

Infantino spent 15 years working for Uefa, during which he did not appear to make decisions demonstrating any particular loyalty to Africa. That support became more evident when he needed Africa’s voting bloc to help him win the Fifa presidency.

Caf and its member associations have an opportunity to establish a more independent position. Supporting an independent investigation into Infantino’s reported attempt to sell part of the World Cup in secret would be consistent with Motsepe’s stated commitment to good governance, due process and transparency.

The same applies to other disputed decisions surrounding the last World Cup, including the hydration breaks that critics say fundamentally breached the rules of the sport.

The Palestinian Football Association president, Jibril Rajoub, provided an example of a more confrontational approach at the Fifa Congress in Vancouver in May. Infantino attempted to arrange a photo opportunity in which Rajoub would shake hands with, and stand alongside, an official from the Israeli football authorities.

Rajoub publicly refused to participate in what he regarded as a superficial gesture, against the backdrop of the killing of tens of thousands of babies, women and other innocent people in Gaza and the West Bank.

Caf now faces a similar test of independence. From Artan, to African supporters and journalists denied entry to the United States to follow the World Cup, the treatment of the Iranian team and the reported attempt to extract billions from the World Cup behind a veil of secrecy, the criticism is that Infantino’s primary loyalty is to himself.

Caf had a chance to demonstrate leadership, independent thinking and a genuine commitment to its own principles. Instead, Motsepe and his colleagues appear to have missed it.

Story audio is generated using AI.