Longtime African Football President Passes Away at 77

In Summary

• Former African football president Issa Hayatou passed away on Thursday at the age of 77, just one day before his 78th birthday, following a long illness. Hayatou, a Cameroonian, was the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for 29 years, from 1988 until his unexpected ouster in 2017.
• Hayatou also served as acting FIFA president from 2015-2016 following the suspension of Sepp Blatter. He was a lifelong sports administrator and an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from 2001-2016, later becoming an honorary member.
• During his career, Hayatou was implicated in an alleged bribery scandal involving FIFA in 2011. The IOC disciplined him with a reprimand after claims surfaced that he received $20,000 from the defunct sports marketing company ISL in 1995. Hayatou denied the corruption allegations, stating that the money was a gift for his confederation.
• Under Hayatou’s leadership, African football made significant strides, although he was often criticized for being slow to implement innovative changes. He ran for the FIFA presidency in 2002 but lost to Sepp Blatter as many African nations did not support him in the vote.

CAIRO, EGYPT- Issa Hayatou, the former president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and a pivotal figure in African sports, passed away on Thursday at the age of 77, just one day before what would have been his 78th birthday. The news was confirmed by Cameroonian television, which reported that Hayatou had been battling a long illness.

Hayatou's career as a sports administrator spanned several decades, with his most prominent role being at the helm of CAF, where he served as president for 29 years from 1988 until his surprising ouster in 2017. During his tenure, Hayatou played a crucial role in advancing African football, helping to raise the profile of the sport on the continent.

In addition to his leadership at CAF, Hayatou also stepped into the role of acting FIFA president from 2015-2016, following the suspension of Sepp Blatter by the world football governing body. His involvement in global sports extended beyond football, as he was also an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from 2001-2016, after which he was granted honorary membership.

Despite his significant contributions to African and global football, Hayatou’s career was not without controversy. In 2011, he was disciplined by the IOC over his involvement in an alleged bribery scandal linked to FIFA. According to a BBC Panorama investigation, Hayatou received approximately $20,000 from the now-defunct sports marketing company ISL in 1995. Although the IOC issued a reprimand, Hayatou denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the money was a gift intended for his confederation, not a bribe.

Under Hayatou’s leadership, African football saw substantial growth and development, though he was frequently criticized for being slow to introduce innovative changes to the sport. In 2002, Hayatou made a bid for the FIFA presidency, challenging Sepp Blatter. However, he lost the election as many African countries did not back him in the vote, leading to Blatter’s continued reign.