World Football Governing body, FIFA has found former vice president of the Confederation of African Football, Constant Omari, guilty of some unscrupulous procedures.

Fifa’s Independent Ethics Committee has handed for vice president of the Confederation of African Football, Constant Omari, a one-year ban from all football-related activities.

The DR Congo football administrator was found guilty of receiving aids from Lagardere during discussions between Caf and the French media outfit.

Omar was claimed to have pocketed over 66,000 Euros (US$80,000), Fifa has requested he return as part of his punishment.

”A formal investigation against Mr Omari was opened on 7 January 2021 and concerned certain benefits accepted and received from Lagardère Sports (for a total amount of EUR 66,444), in relation to the negotiations that he conducted for an agreement between CAF and Lagardère Sports in connection with the commercialization of certain TV rights licensed to the LC2 company and to the collection of the latter’s outstanding debt.

The negotiations, which were led by Mr Omari on behalf of CAF, resulted in contractual provisions that were particularly detrimental to CAF, causing significant financial damage to the confederation. In this respect, the receipt of benefits created a conflict of interests that detracted from Mr Omari’s ability to perform his duties to CAF with integrity and in an independent and purposeful manner”.

In accordance with art. 67 par.1 of the FIFA Code of Ethics, the parties have mutually agreed on the following sanction:

• A 12-month ban from taking part in any kind of football-related activity at national and international level
• A fine of EUR 66,442

The sanction is effective from the validation of the agreement by the chairman of the adjudicatory chamber, which occurred on 18 June 2021.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FIFA Ethics Committee.

Omari recently exited his role as DR Congo’s football federation president after a 16-year reign, despite having six months remaining in his fourth term.

Background:

Constant Omari Selemani (born 14 January 1958), is a Congolese football administrator and a member of the FIFA Council since 2015. The position is paid $250,000 annually by FIFA.

In September 2015, Omari was appointed as the chairman of FIFA’s Task Force Against Racism and Discrimination.
On 19 July 2019, Omari was nominated to be the first vice president of Confederation of African Football, taking over the portfolio from Amaju Pinnick.

Omari stepped up to lead CAF when previous president Ahmad Ahmad was banned by FIFA in November for financial wrongdoing. Ahmad, from Madagascar, and Omari were among three African officials barred as candidates for FIFA positions at CAF elections on March 12.

The FIFA governance and review committee carries out mandatory checks on candidates as part of reforms introduced in fallout from financial and election scandals in the past decade. Omari has reportedly been investigated for suspected financial wrongdoing linked to CAF commercial contracts while he was vice president under Ahmad’s leadership.

Turmoil at CAF in 2019 led to FIFA sending its secretary general, Fatma Samoura of Senegal, to run the organization for six months. A forensic audit detailed financial irregularities.

The 54-nation African soccer body is due to elect a president, some of its six other FIFA Council delegates and members of its own executive committee. The election meeting is scheduled to be held in Rabat, Morocco.

FIFA announced on 27 January 2021 that Omari had failed an integrity and eligibility check and was barred from seeking reelection.