Ivory Coast appeals to CAS over FIFA ‘bullying’ with repeated audit demands

Ivory Coast win AFCON 2015

May 23 – The Ivory Coast Football Federation (FIF) has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to review FIFA’s latest decision to audit the football body. The Ivorians are objecting that this is the second time in two months that FIFA has ordered an audit. 

“Over the last three years, FIF has noted that it is the object of relentlessness on the part of the international football body, FIFA,” a letter from FIF said. “The proof of this is several calls for audits in close succession, the most recent of which are those of April and May 2018. FIF, a member of FIFA since 1964, has always respected FIFA’s decisions in accordance with the regulations it enacts.”

“In its interest and that of FIFA, FIF has decided to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), within the framework of the legitimate exercise of its rights, statutorily organised, in order to expose its incomprehension of the latest decisions taken by Fifa as a detriment of those rights,” the letter stated.

FIF has gone through a difficult time following their failure to qualify for the World Cup and a disappointing African Cup of Nations campaign in 2017. The defending champions were eliminated in the group stages.

By next month, FIF wants to appoint a new coach for the national team to succeed the Belgian Marc Wilmots. Wilmots had been tasked to lead the Elephants to Russia, but endured a torrid time as head coach.

Ivory Coast’s next big game is a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in September away to Rwanda.

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