FIFA scandal: Does Africa bear any blame?
Banished FIFA president Sepp Blatter enjoyed staunch support from African Football Associations and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) itself, which is one more reason why the scandal at the world’s football body is more of an embarrassment to many African officials than to any other region in the world.
However, despite the indictment of 14 people including nine top FIFA officials on corruption charges by the United States, many African Football Chiefs seem not to see the hand of Blatter in the purported scandal.
The 79-year-old Swiss has been a good friend of Africa. He laudably contributed to
Banished Ex-FIFA Chief Sepp Blatter
the development of grassroots football through the expansion of the Goal Project. But he would mostly be appreciated for his efforts in bringing the World Cup to the continent for the first time.
When South Africa won the right to stage the event in 2010 nobody had heard any reports of a rigged voting process at that time. Nobody heard how $10 million was transferred to the accounts of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) to influence votes in favour of South Africa against Morocco.