In a move that has drawn scrutiny from Fifa, Confederation of African Football (Caf) President Patrice Motsepe has pledged his unwavering support for the beleaguered Malian Football Federation (Femafoot) President Mamatou Touré, who is currently incarcerated on charges of embezzlement and forgery.
Touré, a prominent member of Fifa’s council, remains in custody in Bamako after being denied bail last week. He was indicted in August by the Malian government, accused of misappropriating a staggering $28 million (£22.4 million) from the state treasury during his tenure as a financial and administrative director in Mali’s national assembly. Touré has vehemently denied the allegations and was re-elected as Femafoot president for a second term in September despite his ongoing legal troubles.
Motsepe, the South African mining magnate who took over the Caf reins in 2021, has publicly expressed his unwavering support for Touré, stating, “Pass my regards to our brother today – he’s in our hearts and minds.” He further emphasised his commitment to securing Touré’s release, declaring, “We are consistently engaging and following the ethical and legal process to get him out of jail. It’s my duty, and it’s the duty of all of us in Caf.”
Caf, however, has sought to distance itself from any perception of interference in the judicial process, reiterating its respect for the rule of law and the legal systems in place across Africa. A Caf spokesperson stated, “Caf supports the implementation of appropriate legal measures in line with international legal and judicial best practices. The Caf president, Dr Motsepe, reiterated this commitment to ethical and legal processes.”
Fifa’s code of ethics stipulates that officials must maintain political neutrality and refrain from any actions that could compromise their integrity or the organisation’s integrity. While Caf has held that Motsepe’s activities align with these principles, Fifa has remained conspicuously silent.
Motsepe’s stance has drawn criticism from some quarters, with parallels being drawn to his controversial visit to Gabonese FA President Pierre-Alain Mounguengui, who is currently awaiting trial on charges of failing to report alleged sexual abuse by coaches in the country. Motsepe’s visit was widely seen as an attempt to influence the judicial process.
The ongoing saga surrounding Touré’s imprisonment and Motsepe’s involvement has cast a shadow over Caf, raising concerns about potential interference and a lack of transparency. As the legal proceedings continue, it remains to be seen whether Caf and Motsepe will be able to maintain their stance of neutrality and uphold the ethical standards expected of them.