Court Postpones Issa Hayatou Trial

Cairo Economic Court has postponed until 6 May, 2017 proceedings in the case against former President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou, who is accused of violating Egypt’s Competition Law by selling exclusive broadcast and sponsoring rights to Lagardère Sports.

The Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA) has accused Hayatou and the Confederation’s Secretary-General, Hisham El-Omrani, of violating the competition law by granting exclusive broadcasting rights without a tender.

The ECA referred the case to the prosecution early this year, asking for the suspension of the commercial contract between CAF and French company, Lagardère Sports, saying it violates Egypt’s anti-monopoly laws.

The 70-year-old Hayatou lost his position as CAF head, which he held for 29 years, after losing elections last month to Ahmed of Madagascar. The CAF was founded in 1957 in Khartoum by the Egyptian, Ethiopian and Sudanese football associations.

Egypt maintains that since Cairo is home to the CAF headquarters, the decisions of its officials are subject to the country’s laws.