March 9 – Zimbabwe FA chairman Phillip Chiyangwa has stepped up his dispute with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) by threatening legal action against both its president, Issa Hayatou, and secretary general.
According to the BBC, Chiyangwa is angry that a birthday party he hosted in Harare on February 23 will be discussed by CAF’s Executive Committee next week ahead of the much anticipated presidential election. CAF had previously warned Chiywanga, who was accused of using the occasion to rally support for election challenger Ahmad Ahmad, that hosting the gathering would be seen as “an attempt to destabilise” the confederation.
“They shouldn’t dare me with silly innuendos – making nefarious allegations,” Chiyangwa said. “My legal team is preparing to go into battle against President Issa Hayatou and Secretary General Hicham El Amrani.”
“If necessary following any deliberations that are prejudicial to my interests and standing, I will be taking legal recourse to the extent that Hayatou and El Amrani will be held personally liable for defamation.”
The Executive Committee meets in Ethiopia on Tuesday 14 March, two days ahead of the increasingly spicy election which pits Hayatou against sole challenger Ahmad, head of Madagascar’s FA. Chiyangwa is campaign manager for Ahmad in an effort to unseat Hayatou, the longest-serving president in CAF history after assuming office in 1988.
Chiyangwa claims the much-contested social occasion was both to celebrate his election as president of the southern African football region COSAFA in December as well as his birthday. But he was advised that the event, notably attended by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, would breach CAF guidelines.
“The president of CAF, Issa Hayatou, directs me to send you this,” began the letter written by Morocco’s El Amrani to Chiyangwa. “While it would be acceptable to convene a meeting of the leaders of your zonal union, convening a meeting with representatives of many member associations outside COSAFA zone is deemed to represent an attempt to destabilise CAF.”
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