ACTUALITE |
11.03.2002
Paving Hayatou`s path?
Farah Addo`s revelations about corruption at the top of world football could be interpreted as the opening salvo of a presidential election campaign.
Speculation about a bid by Issa Hayatou, the 53-year-old president of the Confederation of African Football (Caf), has been rife since the African Nations Cup in Mali
During the tournament, It was evident that a Fifa presidential bid had been discussed by Caf officials and African football association chiefs.
Many expected Hayatou to use the Nations Cup as a launchpad for his Fifa ambitions.
But the Cameroonian is a slow and calculating sports politician.
He would not make a public bid for Sepp Blatter`s job until he is confident of his election chances.
In the light of this, Addo`s well-timed allegations about Fifa could be interpreted as a further testing of the waters by African officials.
Hayatou recently travelled to the Middle East, in what was seen as a bid for potential Arab support.
Career ambitions
Addo`s allegations, which amplify loudly for the first time, rumours circulating in football, about the last Fifa presidential election, are an embarrassment to Sepp Blatter.
The Swiss has already announced his intention to stand for re-election at the congress in May.
Addo`s allegations have not provoked a fiery response from UEFA president, Lennart Johansson, who lost to Blatter four years ago.
But if UEFA, who have called for an investigation into the bribery allegations, are able to muster enough pressure for a bigger probe, Blatter could be fatally damaged.
That would leave the way open for Hayatou to publicly declare his candidacy.
Africa`s football chieftains will deliberate on the Cameroonian`s possible bid, when they meet at Caf`s headquarters in Cairo on March 16th.
The Cairo meeting would set the stage for Hayatou to launch the biggest move of his political career.
But if the Addo controversy washes away as quickly as it imploded onto the tabloid pages, Hayatou`s bid could yet be still-born.
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Hits: 1 | Source:BBC | |
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