CAF has officially responded to recent claims by Lagardère Sports regarding the termination of their contract, which had bound the French company to the continental body since 2016. Earlier this week, Lagardère publicly announced the end of the agreement and threatened CAF with legal action, prompting the Confederation of African Football to clarify the situation.
In a statement published on its website Friday, CAF explained that the termination was not a unilateral decision but a legal necessity arising from prior rulings. “In 2017, the Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA) found that the agreement violated Egyptian competition rules because Lagardère had been appointed CAF’s exclusive agent for marketing and media rights for an uninterrupted period of 20 years without a tender process. In the same ruling, the ECA declared the agreement null and void and imposed corrective measures on CAF. These measures included the obligation to immediately terminate the agreement and suspend its effects in the Egyptian market,” the statement detailed.
CAF further emphasized that it had repeatedly attempted to renegotiate the terms with Lagardère, but the French company failed to respond to multiple invitations for discussion. “In light of the above, CAF had no choice but to terminate the contract. CAF has repeatedly informed Lagardère, including at a meeting this week, that its termination of the agreement was not a ‘unilateral decision,’ as erroneously presented in Lagardère’s recent press release. The termination of the agreement is the legal consequence of the Court’s decision, the judgments of the Egyptian courts, and the recommendations and impending decision of the CCC (Common Market Commission for East and Southern Africa),” CAF clarified.
The continental body’s statement underscores that the decision was driven by legal compliance rather than an arbitrary choice. The ECA’s ruling highlighted that the original agreement, which bypassed competitive tendering, violated regulations intended to ensure fairness and transparency in commercial dealings within Egyptian jurisdiction. By adhering to the court’s mandates, CAF sought to align its operations with legal and ethical standards governing the management of media and marketing rights.
CAF also noted that the decision reflects a broader commitment to transparent governance. By engaging with Lagardère multiple times and providing opportunities for renegotiation, the Confederation emphasized its willingness to maintain constructive partnerships while remaining compliant with legal obligations. The lack of response from Lagardère left CAF with no alternative but to terminate the contract to comply with judicial directives and regional regulatory expectations.
This clarification aims to settle misunderstandings in the African football community and international sports business circles. CAF stressed that its actions were in line with legal requirements and that the termination should be seen as a procedural necessity rather than an arbitrary severing of ties. The statement reaffirms CAF’s intention to uphold transparency, accountability, and adherence to competition laws in all commercial engagements moving forward, signaling a commitment to maintaining credibility and fairness in African football’s commercial operations.
