This archive report was first published on 18 July 2019.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino unveiled a plan to revamp African football on Wednesday, sending a top official to work with the regional body CAF to improve the sport on the continent.
The unprecedented move follows corruption allegations against CAF president Ahmad Ahmad, who has denied wrongdoing in several media interviews.
Infantino attended a CAF executive committee meeting on Wednesday, where members were shown an 11-point plan to improve African football.
The plan includes possible changes to the format of CAF competitions, a review of refereeing, and a task force to improve stadium security.
Infantino also brushed aside suggestions that there was widespread opposition to the move, saying that what counts is that FIFA and CAF decide to cooperate to improve African football significantly.
“What counts is that we decide to cooperate, that the highest FIFA administrator is coming to work with CAF…to improve African football significantly,” Infantino told reporters.
CAF vice-president Amaju Pinnick said it was wrong to say that FIFA were taking over, instead describing it as a partnership and collaboration to strengthen CAF's judicial, governance, and fiscal discipline.
