Former CAF President Issa Hayatou Passes Away at 77
Prince Jean
Aug 9, 2024
Former CAF President Issa Hayatou congratulates Lionel Messi during a FIFA Ballon d'Or ceremony, highlighting his significant role in global football governance.
Issa Hayatou, the long-serving former president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has passed away at the age of 77. The Cameroonian football administrator led CAF for an impressive 29 years, beginning his presidency in 1988 and concluding his tenure in 2017.
Hayatou also played a significant role in global football governance. He served on the FIFA Executive Committee (now the FIFA Council) from 1990 until 2017. His influence extended further when he briefly assumed the role of acting FIFA president from 2015 to 2016, following the suspension of Sepp Blatter.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his condolences on Instagram, remembering Hayatou as a passionate sports enthusiast who dedicated his life to sports administration.
"Saddened to hear of the passing of former CAF president, former FIFA president ad interim, FIFA vice president and FIFA council member, Issa Hayatou,"
Infantino wrote.
"On behalf of FIFA, condolences go to his family, friends, former colleagues, and all who knew him. Rest in peace."
In his earlier years, Hayatou was not only a football administrator but also a talented track athlete and basketball player.
Despite his contributions, Hayatou faced controversy towards the end of his career. In August 2021, FIFA imposed a one-year ban on him for violating its code of ethics concerning a significant deal signed with French media company Lagardère in 2016. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned this sanction in February 2022.
