In June 2020, world football governing body, FIFA, approved the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Relief Plan.
The FIFA Council unitedly ratified the COVID‑19 Relief Plan, which was designed by the Gianni Infantino-led administration in close cooperation with representatives of the confederations. Up to 1.5 billion US Dollars was earmarked to assist the football community.
FIFA paid the first tranche of the relief fund in July 2020 and promised the final one will be paid in January 2021.
In Africa (considered the poorest continent on earth), distrust threatened the response of FIFA and CAF in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even though the funds were allotted to ensure football clubs and all affiliates are able to withstand the financial losses caused by the COVID-19, widespread perceptions of African sports administrators as self-seeking and corrupt further fuel scepticism from major stakeholders.
To illustrate, in Accra, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) continues to probe corruption claims levelled against it by Alhaji Yakubu Moro, President of Berekum Arsenals.
Moro, during a radio interview with Kumasi-based Light FM in July, alleged that the GFA Executive Council intends to share and "chop" the FIFA and CAF COVID-19 Relief funds. He stood by his claims, that he is not at fault. "Chop" is a slang that means misappropriation or embezzlement of funds.
"I haven't and will never regret what I said. I have nothing to explain again. I will repeat exactly what I said if I meet the committee.
"I will go to court if the GFA decides to punish me over my comment because I see nothing wrong with what I said," Moro had told Otec FM as he prepares to face the GFA (Ethics Committee).
The hierarchy of Ghana football had in a 2018 undercover investigation been exposed when one-time CAF vice-president, Kwesi Nyantakyi dishonestly obtained $65,000 as an inducement to favour a potential sponsor of the Ghanaian FA. As a result, Nyantakyi lost his roles as CAF Vice President and Executive Council member of FIFA
GFA announced a disbursement plan for a combined sum of $1.8 million [€1.6m] for various industry stakeholders including the men and women's Premier League clubs, men's Division Two clubs, Regional Football Associations (RFAs), and more.
Similarly, when the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) published its disbursement plan in August, mistrust was noticed.
Amaju Pinnick-led NFF board 'distributed' N772 million ($2 million) FIFA's COVID-19 relief fund to clubs.
I fear for the money that will go to the state owned clubs, it might never see the light of day
— Oyelade Hamzat (@hamoye4real) August 11, 2020
Bogus amount for swan in order to continue praising mediocrity in forms of @PinnickAmaju and @ShehuDikko . this money is gone to individual pocket except @FIFAcom or @PwC share it then sorry is the story.
— Rafindo Ifezue (@secamna) August 11, 2020
U ain't seeing anything,the way this whole money go take disappear go shock u
— Dr Eti (@Etigame231) August 11, 2020
In a communiqué issued after the NFF Executive Committee meeting via a video conference at the time, the total sum to be disbursed is made up of $1,000,000 (being FIFA’s support for restarting the football season); $500,0000 (being FIFA’s dedicated support for women’s football); $300,000 (CAF’s support to its Member Associations); $200,000 (NFF’s support from Sponsors’ Funds).
Although as per a recent report by The Guardian, Pinnick said that the NFF is working towards contracting PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited (PWC) to manage the disbursement of the funds "to ensure fairness and accountability in the exercise", this writer gathered that appropriate remittance has not been received by the Nigerian football ecosystem (women football; Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN; Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, et al).
In Zimbabwe, the football governing body in that country (ZIFA) is currently embroiled in a cold war with the Premier Soccer League (PSL) over FIFA/CAF's COVID-19 Relief Funds. PSL is ZIFA's biggest constituency.
Hitherto, ZIFA came under a barrage of criticism for 'lacking transparency in the disbursement of the US$1.8 million COVID-19 bailout funds'. The body also came under fire after they disbursed the funds in local currency.
In Gambia, communication by the West African nation's Football Federation (GFF) in respect of the sharing formula of the $1.5 million it received from FIFA, sparked some divisions among football administrators.
Although, Bakary Jammeh, the First Vice-President of the GFF insists the body "is only following the orders and guidelines of FIFA in the disbursement of the funds", criticisms have not stopped pouring in.
Impressively, in Uganda, no palpable squabble as regards the allotments. In fact, the 16 Uganda Premier League clubs have received their FIFA COVID-19 relief funds as promised from the Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA).
Action between Onduparaka and Busoga United during the 2019/2020 Uganda Premier League season (Photo credit: football256.com)
FUFA reportedly received $500,000 from FIFA and CAF.
While many of these accusations of embezzlement on the continent of Africa remain unproven, I charge managers of sports affairs to be more reliable and more honest.
Overall, maladministration and lack of accountability have negatively impacted the development of sports in Africa, administrators of the game need to oversee effectively, and most importantly, selflessly!
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