FIFA have released an official statement following the arrest of CAF president Ahmad Ahmad.
As reported, CAF boss Ahmad was arrested in Paris during his visit to the FIFA congress. The Central Office Against Corruption & Financial and Fiscal Offences (OCLIF) charged the Madagascar international over a suspicious deal with Puma and the company Technical Steel.
It is alleged that Ahmad received €739 000 (R12.3 billion) from one of the bosses of Technical Steel to concluded the deal.
FIFA have now broken the silence by stating that Ahmad is innocent until proven guilty.
FIFA’s official statement:
“FIFA has taken note of the alleged events concerning Mr. Ahmed Ahmad, who is being questioned by the French authorities in relation to allegations related to his mandate while President of CAF.
“FIFA is unaware of the details surrounding this investigation and is therefore not in a position to make any comment on it specifically.
“FIFA is asking the French authorities for any information that might be relevant to investigations taking place within its Ethics Committee.
“As a matter of due process, everyone has the right to the presumption of innocence, but as the FIFA President reiterated on Wednesday, FIFA is fully committed to eradicating all forms of wrongdoing at any level in football. Anyone found to have committed illicit or illegal acts has no place in football.
“FIFA is now clean from the scandals that tarnished its reputation and this same determination should prevail in governing bodies such as confederations. FIFA will at the forefront of ensuring that this is enforced by everyone involved in football.”
Source:FIFA
