Confederations of African Football (CAF) President Ahmad Ahmad has refused to accept a salary from the African football’s governing body, saying it does not “respect good administration.”
“I’ve refused a CAF salary for the simple reason it doesn’t respect good administration,” BBC Sport reports him to say.
“The salaries of all CAF employees, from administrators to the executive committee and president, all have to be transparent,” he added.
The 57-year-old held his first senior CAF meetings on Monday ahead of the FIFA Congress on Thursday, 11 May.
Ahead of that congress, Ahmad called for a review of the standards of management at CAF, to introduce more focus on jobs there.
“First we must review the standards of management so that we can apply the reforms,” he said.
“I’m sorry to tell you when I was part of the CAF Executive Committee there was no separation of powers – the judicial body, the executive one and the congress – and we have to respect the independence of each body,” he continued.
“There is a big tendency to monopolize power in the executive committee.
“It has to be reviewed and reformed with new statutes for CAF so that everyone can concentrate on their proper tasks.
The CAF chief also hinted at possibly fronting a change in the dates that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament is held.
He said he was particularly keen to address issues such as dwindling numbers of spectators at recent tournaments, and players increasingly finding themselves in compromised situations with their clubs during Nations Cups.
“We need to take into account their situation. We must ensure that the Nations Cup doesn’t destroy their careers,” he insisted.
“So we are going to review all of that and we will take a decision that suits everyone so that this competition is valued again and attracts more resources and attract bigger audiences in Africa.”
In the past, players based in Europe have found themselves in compromising situations as their clubs showed unwillingness to release them to participate in the African competition that takes place in January for four weeks.
Proponents of the change in the AFCON dates say that would also give the competition more focus worldwide.
Those opposed to it however say the tournament has to be held just then, because holding it in June or July wouldn’t be a smooth ride since most African countries experience long rains in that period.
