The 77-year-old former head of the Confederation of African Football, Issa Hayatou, passed away.
From 1988 till his departure in 2017, the Cameroonian leader of the continental governing body presided over 29 years. He also occupied prominent roles in the global governing organization FIFA.
From 1990 to 2017, Hayatou served on the executive committee of the Switzerland-based organization, which is currently referred to as the Fifa council. After Sepp Blatter was suspended, he briefly served as acting president of FIFA in 2015 and 2016.
In an Instagram post, Fifa President Gianni Infantino honored Hayatou, who competed in basketball and track as a young man.
“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.
“A passionate sports fan, he dedicated his life to sports administration.
“On behalf of Fifa, condolences go to his family, friends, former colleagues and all who knew him. Rest in peace.”
Fifa suspended Hayatou for a year in August 2021 for violating its code of ethics in 2016 when he signed the biggest-ever contract in African football with the French media giant Lagardere.
In February of the following year, the Court of Arbitration for Sport reversed the sentence.