October 26 – Embattled Sierra Leone FA president Isha Johansen has been set aside by her own executive committee while she is investigated by the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The ruling also extends to the body’s secretary general Christopher Kamara.
According to the BBC, the decision is in line with ACC rules which state that public officials indicted with corruption charges must be suspended until their case reaches a conclusion.
“The Executive Committee wants to assure Johansen and Kamara that (it) is fully behind them,” read an SLFA statement. “(We are) very supportive in ensuring success at the conclusion of the matter so as to welcome them back to continue their contribution towards the development of football in Sierra Leone.”
Johansen and Kamara are due to make their first appearance in Sierra Leone’s High Court on Monday. Both have previously denied any wrongdoing.
SLFA vice-president Brima Mazola Kamara assumes the role of president with immediate effect while Abdul Rahman will act as secretary general.
Johansen, whose presidency of the SLFA has split opinion, recently announced she was intending to stand for another term of office, her previous term having expired in August. Quite how FIFA, which wants SLFA officials to undergo integrity tests, will respond to her being temporarily sidelined remains to be seen given its stance on government interference in the affairs of its member federations. Only a few weeks ago, a new time frame for ending the bitter in-fighting that has plunged Sierra Leone football into turmoil was agreed following a controversial FIFA task force visit to the capital Freetown.
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