Governing Bodies
INTERNATIONAL AUDITORS, PWC RUBBISH CAF ACCOUNTS
BY DAN PALMER.
The accounting records of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have been described as “unreliable and not trustworthy” after an independent audit, it has been reported.
A review of the troubled organisation was made by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) with their findings seen by Reuters.
According to the news agency, a “series of concerns” have been listed over 55 pages.
The findings come after FIFA announced earlier this month that its “six-month mission” to reform African football had been “successfully completed”.
In a statement the world governing body acknowledged the PWC report alongside a series of recommendations, but the document has not been made public.
“The accounting records of CAF are unreliable and not trustworthy,” the report reads, according to Reuters.
“Based upon the procedures performed and documents reviewed, several red flags, potential elements of mismanagement and possible abuse of power were found in key areas of finance and operations of CAF.
“Given the serious nature of certain findings and red flags identified from the preliminary due-diligence, we cannot rule out the possibility of potential irregularities.”
The report claims that many transactions were made with cash, which would not leave an audit trail.
BBC Sport has reported that a 2017 deal with Tactical Steel is of particular interest, as it is allegedly worth four times as much as an arrangement cancelled with sportswear giant Puma.
An associate of CAF President Ahmad, who has denied wrongdoing, has alleged links to Tactical Steel.
Payments between CAF and French media company Lagardere, and the distribution of money from the FIFA development fund, have also been highlighted.
The possible mismanagement of the CAF Centre of Excellence in Cameroon is another issue, BBC Sport said.
FIFA effectively took over control of the CAF in July following a series of allegations levelled at Ahmad, who is from Madagascar.
Secretary general Fatma Samoura was placed in charge of a group overseeing day-to-day operations by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Ahmad, who goes by one name, was arrested over corruption charges in Paris in June and has also been accused of sexual harassment.
He has been subject to investigation by FIFA’s Ethics Committee but has not faced suspension.
When announcing that FIFA’s work had been completed earlier this month following a meeting in Morocco’s capital Rabat, Samoura said “three pillars” had been focused on.
These were “good governance, financial management and internal procedures”, “efficient and professional organisation of competitions” and “growth and development of African football”.
A 100-point action plan on good governance would be implemented, FIFA said, while a $1 billion (£775 million/€910 million) infrastructure fund to invest in all 54 African member associations was called for.
Other recommendations included the creation of a group of professional referees and seeking new initiatives in international, club, women’s and youth football.
In line with a strategy presented by Infantino, a Pan-African League could be created.
“As agreed at the beginning of the mission, a forensic audit report produced by PricewaterhouseCoopers was presented,” FIFA said.
“FIFA is satisfied that the joint effort made with CAF was done and delivered within the initial proposed time-frame and reiterates FIFA’s commitment to be at the disposal of African football to assist in the process of raising its level to the top of the world.”
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World football governing body, FIFA, today clocks its 122nd anniversary, celebrating more than a century of overseeing and expanding the global game.
Founded on May 21, 1904, in Paris, France, FIFA began with just seven member associations — France, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
From that modest beginning, the organisation has grown into the most influential sports governing body in the world, with 211 member associations spread across all continents.
Over the decades, FIFA has transformed football into a truly global phenomenon through competitions such as the FIFA World Cup, Women’s World Cup, Club World Cup, youth tournaments, and developmental programmes aimed at growing the game worldwide.
The organisation has also witnessed remarkable milestones, including the expansion of the men’s World Cup from 13 teams in 1930 to 48 teams beginning from the 2026 edition to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA’s journey has equally reflected football’s growing influence beyond sport, with the game becoming a major tool for diplomacy, social inclusion, youth empowerment, and economic development across the world.
As FIFA celebrates 122 years of existence, attention is now focused on the future of the game, technological innovations, expanded competitions, women’s football growth, and the continued globalisation of football.
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UEFA has issued a lifetime ban to Petr Vlachovsky, a Czech women’s soccer coach who secretly filmed his players, the governing body announced on Tuesday.
Czech media reported that the coach was convicted in May 2025 and initially received a suspended one-year prison sentence and a five-year domestic coaching ban for filming FC Slovacko’s players in changing rooms, the youngest of whom was 17.
In a statement, UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) said it had decided to ban Vlachovsky “from exercising any football-related activity for life” following the appointment of an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to investigate allegations of potential misconduct.
“The CEDB further decided to request FIFA to extend the abovementioned ban on a worldwide level and to order the Football Association of the Czech Republic to revoke Mr Petr Vlachovsky’s coaching licence,” the statement added.
FC Slovacko did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Football players’ union FIFPRO welcomed the ban as well as UEFA’s request for world soccer governing body FIFA to impose an international ban on Vlachovsky.
“This outcome sends a strong and necessary message that abusive and inappropriate behaviour has no place in football and that safeguarding the well-being of players must remain a priority at every level of the game,” FIFPRO added in a statement.
Vlachovsky had also previously served as coach of the Czech women’s Under-19s team.
RELATED STORY: https://sportsvillagesquare.com/2026/04/08/outrage-as-male-coach-who-secretly-filmed-women-players-still-free-to-work-in-football/
-Reuters
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Southampton have been kicked out of the Championship playoff final after being found guilty of spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough, the English Football League said on Tuesday.
Middlesbrough, who lost 2-1 to Southampton on aggregate in the semi, have been reinstated and will face Hull City on Saturday in what is dubbed the world’s richest soccer match.
Promotion to the Premier League, even with an immediate relegation, is estimated to be worth in the region of 200 million pounds ($268.10 million) over three seasons.
Southampton, who admitted the charges, were also found guilty of filming training sessions involving Oxford United in December and Ipswich Town in April during the regular season.
They have also been deducted four points from the start of next season in England’s second tier.
“An Independent Disciplinary Commission has today expelled Southampton from the Championship play-offs after the club admitted multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs’ training,” the EFL said.
“Southampton admitted breaches of Regulations requiring Clubs to act with the utmost good faith and prohibiting the observation of another Club’s training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match.
“The effect of today’s order is that Middlesbrough are reinstated into the 2026 play-offs and will proceed to the play-off final against Hull City. The final remains scheduled for Saturday 23 May, with the kick-off time to be confirmed.”
The EFL confirmed that Southampton could appeal against the decision and that “parties are working to try and resolve any appeal on Wednesday 20 May.
“Subject to the outcome, it could result in a further change to Saturday’s fixture,” the statement said.
‘BORO CALLED FOR SOUTHAMPTON EXPULSION
Middlesbrough had called for Southampton’s expulsion after having a training session at their Rockliffe Park site filmed 48 hours ahead of the first leg of their playoff semi-final with Southampton which ended 0-0.
The north-east club said they welcomed the decision.
“We believe this sends out a clear message for the future of our game regarding sporting integrity and conduct,” the north Middlesbrough said in a statement.
“As a club, we are now focused on our game against Hull City at Wembley on Saturday.”
Southampton were relegated from the Premier League last season and were struggling in the early part of this campaign until a storming finish in which they went unbeaten in 19 league games to finish fourth and enter the playoffs.
The south-coast club are the first to fall foul of the Football League’s regulation 127 — brought in after Leeds United were found guilty of spying on Derby County seven years ago, an offence for which they were fined 200,000 pounds.
-Reuters
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