PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 12: CAF President Patrice Motsepe and FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the African Football League, Final – 2nd Leg match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Wydad AC at Loftus Versfeld on November 12, 2023 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
CAF president Patrice Motsepe has dismissed claims that the world governing body for football, FIFA interferes in the affairs of the African organisation.
With the continental body undergoing a major revamp of sorts, Motsepe and FIFA head Gianni Infantino have been seen together at all key footballing events.
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Since Motsepe ascended the throne in March 2021, Infantino has repeatedly been seen at continental events and was instrumental in the formation of the African Football League which debuted late last year.
“Good question, there is also a lot of interference by me in FIFA. Let me say this quickly, we’ve got a clear understanding and I understand and the vice-presidents understand what we need to do to make African football one of the best in the world,” Motsepe told the media in a press conference.
“Part of that is partnerships. I was saying to the people at the Exco that sometimes Gianni and I have arguments and I have to be the one feeling a bit irresponsible because I’m insisting to him to do things for Africa which some of it is unreasonable.
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“So, we need to be careful not to put pressure so I just want to emphasise we will continue the partnerships with FIFA, it’s very important,” he added.
Despite the rumours of meddling by the global soccer body, Motsepe insists the buck stops with them and added the world’s richest individuals like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, who meet Motsepe occasionally, don’t tell him what to do.
“We (CAF) take the decisions, I laughed at people saying FIFA tells Patrice what to do. I had a number of African head of states; saying these people don’t know you,” he said.
“We decide what’s good for us, I mean I work with some of the top businessmen in the world. They don’t tell me what to do. I’ll be with Bill Gates next week, I’m in meetings with Warren Buffet.
“The top people in the world, they respect me because they know I have got a mind of my own so it’s a none issue now,” Motsepe stated.
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