The Confederation of African Football has waved away allegations of unfair dealings against it in Egypt, saying it is an attempt to disrupt its presidential election.
In a statement on its website, CAF said it was compelled to make clarifications “in the face of a variety of unsubstantiated charges and allegations”.
The allegations were presented in the media by the Egyptian Competition Authority.
The development has led to the Public Prosecutor for Financial and Commercial Affairs referring CAF, its President and Secretary General to the Egyptian Economic Court on the basis of the allegations.
The statement said: “CAF renewed the appointment of Lagardère Sports as marketing and media agency for the main regional football competitions in Africa up to 2028 following an extensive period of negotiations.
“A legally binding agreement was signed by the parties in June 2015 and was unanimously approved by the CAF Executive Committee.
“In commercial terms, the deal represented an enormous increase in the revenues guaranteed to CAF for its marketing and media rights.”
It said the deal helped to secure significant and guaranteed funds for the benefit of African football over the next 12 years.
CAF said with an unrivalled track record in delivering African football for over 22 years, Lagardère Sports was also an agency which could deliver and execute CAF’s vast programme of events.
These events included the Africa Cup of Nations, the African Nations Championship and the African Champions League.
It said: “Any suggestion whatsoever of impropriety in relation to the commercial agreement is utterly without foundation and completely and vehemently denied.”
It said it would vigorously defend its position, its rights and reputation using all legal means available under international law.
It stated: “The charges presented in the media by the Egyptian Competition Authority and the Public Prosecutor, through appearances on talk shows and issuance of press releases, contradict the clearly established aforementioned facts.
“It is suggested that a company called Presentation Advertising Agency submitted a superior offer to CAF at the time of the negotiations.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, the offer submitted by Presentation was submitted in September 2016, 15 months after the signature of the contract.
“It materially and substantially fell short of the financial, technical, execution and other requirements commonly expected and required for deals of this nature in the sports media industry.
“Most significantly and in addition to the previous points, Presentation’s belated offer was to acquire outright the marketing and media rights held by CAF, which were never for sale.
“Moreover, the very holding of such agency rights by Presentation would be in violation of CAF articles of association.
“As has been clearly established by the Egyptian Competition Authority in the past in one of its own public reports, the agreement between CAF and Lagardère Sports is an agency agreement not a sale agreement.”
CAF said it was worrisome that ECA’s latest media campaign presents allegations on the basis of the agreement being a sale agreement.
It said: “In the ordinary course of any legal dispute under international norms, CAF would be given the opportunity to present its case to relevant authorities and have the right to be heard in accordance with due process.
“To date, the Egyptian Competition Authority and the Public Prosecutor, in quite remarkable and unprecedented fashion for regulatory bodies, have attempted to conduct a trial by media.
“This offered CAF no right of defence and serving it with no formal charges other than through the media.
“Indeed, the Public Prosecutor has referred its fait accompli case to the Egyptian Economic Court following only a few days of investigations without any communication or engagement whatsoever with CAF.”
The football governing body said in view of available facts, it was becoming increasingly clear that this was a form of interference with general commercial contract negotiations in Egypt.
It said this was being presented under the veil of an unfounded local competition law infringement.
The statement also said: “This sets a deeply worrying precedent not just for football in Egypt, but for business in Egypt and for sports and business in Africa.
“The timing of ECA’s media campaign also underlines its attempt to disrupt and undermine CAF at the time of its presidential elections.
“To be absolutely clear, CAF categorically asserts that all claims against it are groundless and without merit, and will vigorously contest them.”
CAF added that as a not-for-profit organisation, which aims only to achieve football development across the continent, it celebrates Africa through football.
It said it does this while using the power of football to contribute to youth empowerment while raising social awareness of key causes.
NAN.
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