Pape Gueye Suspension: CAF Indicts FIFA For Poor Communication, Non Respect of AFCON

By Ngome Michael

The Confederation of African football has written to FIFA castigating the time frame within which it has made public information regarding the suspension of a Senegalese player participating in the continent’s flagship competition, the AFCON.

22_year_old Senegalese midfielder, Pape Allasane Gueye and teammates received with shock his four months FIFA ban over his transfer from Watford to Marsielle Prior to an AFCON game against Guinea.

Gueye was unexpectedly ruled out from Cissé’s starting XI due to the FIFA ban.

CAF in a letter addressed to Zurich has criticized the impatience exercised by FIFA in disseminating such a decision amid the AFCON.

“The inopportune moment of the notification of this decision gives a bad perception of the good relationship between FIFA and CAF. It lends itself to those who say that FIFA doesnot respect Africa, when we know that is not the case. Moreover,this unfortunate notification destabilizes not only the team concerned but also the competition, knowing that the player in question is in the marketing plan of CAF”, an except of the CAF letter.

The Confederation wonders why FIFA couldn’t wait for three weeks when the AFCON is over before notifying the player. CAF equally doubts if such decision would have been anounced in the middle of the Euros if it involved a European player.

Pape Allasane Gueye joined Watford From Le Havre in the summer of 2020 but, later claimed he was badly advise and called off deal before being registered by Watford.

Gueye later signed for Marseille but Watford reported the case to FIFA who reacted by issuing a four months ban on the player.

Marsielle have reported the case to the Court of Abirtration for Sports, CAS.

Senegal takes on Malawi in their final group B match of the AFCON on Tuesday January 18 2022.