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Veron Mosengo-Omba asserts CAF is not shielding officials facing corruption charges emphasizing respect for legal processes in respective countries.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) secretary general Veron Mosengo-Omba has emphatically denied accusations that the organization is shielding corrupt officials, asserting that CAF is not in the business of "protecting crooks."
In recent months, CAF has been under intense scrutiny following allegations of corruption against senior administrators within its ranks.
Among the implicated are Malian federation president Mamatou Toure and Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) president Wadie Jary, both of whom face serious charges in their respective countries.
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Mamatou Tour is currently on trial for embezzling public funds in Mali.
Despite his detention, Toure continues to serve on the CAF executive committee and as a member of the FIFA Council.
Reports indicate that Toure even dialed into a FIFA meeting from his prison cell in Bamako, highlighting the unusual circumstances surrounding his case.
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Similarly, Wadie Jary, who has led the FTF since 2012 faces corruption charges in Tunisia.
Jary’s arrest stems from an unlawful contract he agreed upon with former FTF technical director Sghaier Zouita, resulting in an inflated salary as a bonus.
The Tunisian Minister of Youth and Sports, Kamel Deguiche, has been vocal about tackling these issues, with ministry spokesman Chokri Hamda confirming the charges against Jary.
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Amidst these high-profile cases, Mosengo-Omba has sought to clarify CAF's stance on the matter.
"We suspend [people] provisionally if we are investigating the case ourselves," Mosengo-Omba was quoted by BBC.
"We respect the sovereignty of each country. When we have the verdict of the court, we'll take a decision. Nobody is above the law in CAF - no one."
Mosengo-Omba's comments come as part of an effort to defend CAF’s approach to handling corruption allegations.
"If Messrs Toure and Jary committed crime according to the respective regulations of each country, take them to court.How can CAF intervene in the situation?" he added.
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The scrutiny of Toure's financial dealings intensified after an audit conducted by the Pyramis group into Femafoot's finances for 2022 revealed that the federation had not paid any taxes to the Malian state regarding its employees.
This audit, dated March 2023, further compounded the allegations against Toure, who has led Femafoot since 2019.
Meanwhile, Wadie Jary has been plagued by allegations of financial fraud for several years.
The ongoing investigations and legal actions against him have cast a long shadow over his tenure at the Tunisian Football Federation
Despite the seriousness of these allegations, Mosengo-Omba insists that CAF remains committed to upholding the integrity of football administration in Africa.
He reiterated that the organization would act decisively once the legal processes in Mali and Tunisia have run their course.
"When we have the verdict of the court, we'll take a decision," he affirmed.
In the face of growing criticism, Mosengo-Omba’s statements are an attempt to reassure the public and stakeholders that CAF is not turning a blind eye to corruption.
He stressed that the organization is waiting for the outcomes of the court cases to ensure that their actions are justified and legally sound.
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