SportsWhy Is FIFA Backing An African-Styled Super League After The Brouhaha In...

Why Is FIFA Backing An African-Styled Super League After The Brouhaha In Europe?

June 20, (THEWILL)- While the dust disturbed by the now-defunct European Super League is yet to completely settle across the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) enclave, something of a similar project is being mulled for football in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) region with the surprise backing of Gianni Infantino, President of world football governing body, FIFA.

Plans are afoot on the African continent to launch a league comprising the biggest and most elite football clubs despite what the sport endured quite recently in Europe and what some European clubs are still dealing with as regards supporters’ discontent, protests and demonstrations, outcry and backlash, and the ultimate collapse of the project.

Apparently undisturbed by the reaction to the same idea across European football, Patrice Motsepe, CAF President, is of the opinion that an African Super League is a necessity for football’s financial viability and the improvement of the game on the continent to bring it up to par with strides in other Confederation regions.

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In a statement to that effect, the CAF President noted: “We are assessing and in preliminary discussions to start an inclusive and broadly supported and beneficial CAF African Super League.

“We have been following the attempts by some top European clubs to form a Euro Super League and will learn from their experience and pitfalls.”

This is an offshoot of an idea first suggested by Infantino, the FIFA President, himself. THEWILL recalls that in 2019, Infantino mooted the idea first with the rationale being that a Super League as such would comprise 20 permanent member clubs plus other that would qualify via regional competitions, predicting a potential to generate a revenue of $3 billion over a five-year cycle when operational.

It carried an appealing opportunism that Motsepe has bought into with the argument that CAF, which is African football’s controlling body, must consider new competitions to generate additional income for itself and its member associations and “also contribute to African football becoming globally competitive and self-sustaining.”

Without discountenancing the suspicions that still abound around the perception of CAF based upon the accusations of corruption that sank the previous adminstration of the continental football body, Motsepe, who took on the job in March, agreed that CAF’s image needed some work and needed the funds the project will generate:

“There is a poor perception of CAF concerning its adherence to governance, auditing, ethical, financial and management good practices.

“These negative perceptions may, to some extent, be confirmed by the incriminating and damning audit which identified irregular, unethical and improper transactions and conduct.

“CAF should be seen as a body that adheres to good governance, ethics and financial and management best practices.

“It is also important that the quality of [our] competitions are globally competitive and appealing to spectators, viewers and interested parties in Africa and globally.”

It is yet questionable how one region of FIFA’s six confederations of UEFA, AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and OFC will be allowed to form a Super League for the very same reason of financial viability while another fought vehemently against, sanctioned those who repented of joining and opened disciplinary proceedings against the three who refused to recant in another confederation without the accusatory factor of double standards.

Furthermore, by allowing and supporting the formation of a Super League in CAF, FIFA could once more open itself to criticism and even ridicule by European clubs, fans, Union and supporters for being hypocritical about its worries about a European Super League but comfortable with one in Africa.

In addition, those three clubs, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus, who still believe in the necessity of a Super League in Europe and have demonstrated an unshakable recalcitrance in the face of UEFA’s challenges, may see FIFA’s backing of Africa’s attempt as the spur they need to push ahead with a continuation of Europe’s own Super League with new members and a fresh mandate to create another round of furore in UEFA’s backyard.

These and a host of other arguments make it head-scratching that CAF will consider this at this inauspicious time and why FIFA is giving it its backing and blessing. There could be far-reaching impacts to this for world football and it may be a matter of time before a clearer picture emerges and what the reaction of fans on the continent might be.

About the Author

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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.

Jude Obafemi, THEWILLhttps://thewillnews.com
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.

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