Mamoutou Touré, re-elected president of the Malian Football Federation (FEMAFOOT), recently announced his withdrawal from the race for a new mandate within the FIFA Council and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
In a letter sent to these authorities, he justified his decision by his prolonged detention since August 9, 2023 and his state of health.
Since August 2023, Mamoutou Touré has been placed in pre-trial detention by the economic and financial center of Mali. The charges against him include alleged embezzlement of public funds, estimated at nearly 17 billion CFA francs, as well as accusations of forgery and use of forgery. These facts date back to his time in the National Assembly between 2013 and 2019.
Despite this situation, Touré did not benefit from provisional release, which not only impacted his state of health, but also reduced his margin of action in his national and international functions.
On August 29, 2023, Mamoutou Touré was re-elected president of FEMAFOOT for a new four-year term, although he is still in detention. This re-election, marked by the absence of serious competitors and criticism of the transparency of the process, fueled debates in Mali and beyond.
Letter of renunciation to FIFA and CAF
In a recent correspondence, Mamoutou Touré formalized his decision to withdraw his candidacy for a position on the FIFA Council and CAF. In this letter he states:
-« These 17 months of detention, without the possibility of benefiting from provisional release, prevented me from fully investing in my duties and in preparing for the renewal of my mandate within the FIFA Council. », writes Touré.
He also highlights the lack of support from the Malian authorities, particularly the Ministry of Youth and Sports, as well as his desire to preserve the serenity of the institutions he represents.
This letter, full of gratitude towards his colleagues at FIFA and CAF, expresses his wish to continue working for football, but in other forms.
While the date of his trial remains unknown, Mamoutou Touré finds himself at the center of a case which crystallizes the issues of ethics and governance within African football. His withdrawal from international bodies can be seen as a strategic decision aimed at defusing tension, but it also raises questions about the future of Malian football in world arenas.
MD/te/Sf/APA
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