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Fouzi Lekjaa, 3rd Vice President of the African Football Confederation (CAF), risks being fined and banned by the organization of which he is one of the highest ranking members , when the disciplinary committee of CAF will meet Tuesday in Cairo to: hear a complaint filed by the Federation of Ethiopian Football (EFF) against the Moroccan.
Lekjaa (photo), who is also president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), has reportedly attacked FIFA referee Bamelak Tessema of Ethiopia after his club's victory against Zamalek Egypt, at the Confederation Cup final CAF in Alexandria.
Tessema was the central referee of the match.
In a letter of protest sent by the EFF to CAF on June 5 (see below), the Ethiopian Federation stated that "after the match, at the medal ceremony, the 3rd Vice President of CAF and the President of the Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa had beaten Mr. Bamelak Tessema of a whim.
"After the players [of RS Berkane] In the action of Mr. Fouzi Lekjaa, they began to harbad and kick him (Bamelak). Fortunately, he was saved by the authorities.
"As an Ethiopian football federation, we are following this matter seriously," they said.
According to Article 146 of the CAF Disciplinary Code, "A player or an official who openly incites others to hatred or violence shall be subject to a minimum of one (1) year suspension of the match. and a minimum fine of twenty thousand US dollars ($ 20,000) …
"In severe cases, especially when the offense is committed using the means of mbad communication (such as the press, radio or television) or if it takes place during a day of match in or around a stadium, the minimum fine will be fifty thousand US dollars ($ 50,000) and the suspension of one (1) year at least, "the law concludes.
Sources at CAF told Insideworldfootball that Lekjaa had been ordered to appear before the Discipline Committee. At the time of writing, he has not confirmed whether Lekjaa has agreed to appear before the body.
As Tessema has included the alleged badault in his official match record, he should not appear before the commission chaired by Raymond Hack, a lawyer and former CEO of the South African Football Association.
Many people in the corridors of African football believe that the moment is decisive for CAF, with several eyewitnesses to the incident claiming that the EFF complaint is legitimate and should be handled in a transparent manner.
"Many members of the African football community are watching this case very closely because of Lekjaa's strong influence in the organization," Insideworldfootball said, an influential and knowledgeable source. of CAF.
"I do not see how the CAF would have the credibility to punish anyone for an act of indiscipline if this issue was not resolved. Regardless of the position or influence of a person within the FCA, once they commit a serious offense, they must pay for it. If the right decision is not made, it will be very bad for the organization, "the source said.
Lekjaa was at the center of the controversy within CAF, when he accused the body, of which he is a key member, of turning a blind eye to the use of overworked players at the last African Championship. under 17 in Tanzania.
The president of the FRMF also threatened to sue the CAF before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, after the final stalemate of the Champions League between Tunisian hope at the Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco. The latter abandoned the match to protest a goal that had been mistakenly refused by Gambian referee Papa Bakary Gbadama.
In contravention of its own rules – as stated in paragraph 17, section 11 of the Champions League regulations – the executive committee of the governing body, at a meeting in Paris, ordered to replay the match go from the final, rather than reward the match and the trophy to Hope, after the abandonment of the game by the Wydad.
Credit: Contact the author of this story, Osasu Obayiuwana
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