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The president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Malagasy Ahmad, " is questioned by the French authorities, " said Fifa, Thursday, June 6, while the weekly Jeune Afrique mentions an arrest for unilateral breach of contract with a sports equipment supplier.
" Ahmad was arrested on Thursday morning around 8:30 at the Berri Hotel, in Paris, to be heard by the services of the Central Office for Combating Corruption and Financial and Tax Crimes (Oclif)", could we read this Thursday, June 6 in the morning on the website of Jeune Afrique . " According to our information, this arrest would be linked to the contract unilaterally broken by the CAF with the German equipment manufacturer Puma to engage with the Technical Steel company, based in La Seyne-sur-Mer, " continues the press.
" These are lies! "
" A contract signature which, according to the former secretary general of the continental forum Amr Fahmy, would have been favored by the proximity between Ahmad and one of the leaders of the French company, and whose additional cost would reach 830 000 dollars (739 000 euros), "always writes Jeune Afrique .
In an interview to appear Tuesday, June 11 in the special issue CAN 2019 of the French weekly France Football , Ahmad gave his version of the facts: " These are lies! In 2017, for the African Nations Championship, CAF had no more equipment manufacturer. It was necessary to find one urgently. With Puma, given the delay, there was no certainty to be delivered on time. I then realized the extent of corruption at the head of our marketing department in charge of this file. I then alerted Adidas Egypt but the stock was insufficient. So I asked my attaché (Loïc Gérand) to contact a person he knew in this sector (Romuald Seilier, boss of Tactical Steel). He could provide us. In this case, nobody has dared to make a trick . "
Two members of the CAF executive committee told RFI this Thursday, June 6 afternoon that President Ahmad was auditioned during an interpellation. This is also confirmed by Constant Omari, Vice President of CAF and a member of the Council of Fifa, quoted by the daily newspaper L'Equipe . " Indeed, the interpellation took place , advance Omari. At this point, CAF is waiting to know exactly for which Ahmad case was arrested. His lawyer is with him. We are following the situation . President Ahmad was in Paris yesterday to attend the Fifa Congress, which resulted in the re-election of President Gianni Infantino.
Fifa is not able to " comment "
In a statement dated today, Fifa has regulated this information. The world football body " takes note of the alleged events concerning Mr. Ahmad, who is questioned by the French authorities " for " allegations related to his mandate as president of the CAF ".
The international federation does not know the " details " of this investigation, is not able to " comment " and asks " the French authorities any information " that could interest its " ethics committee ", ie the internal justice of football world.
In its statement, Fifa also says it wants to " eradicate " everything related to the malfeasance or dubious behavior " at all levels " of football. " Anyone who has committed illegal or illegal acts has no place in the world of football, " says Fifa.
The ethics committee of Fifa was seized last month by CAF Secretary General Amr Fahmy on suspicion of corruption and sexual harassment against Ahmad. The secretary general was later dismissed.