Allegations of CAF violating market competition laws are “unsubstantiated” -CAF

The Egyptian Competition Authority’s (ECA) allegations that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) offered Lagardère Sports the exclusive right to air CAF competitions without allowing for a fair competition from other bidders are “unsubstantiated,” CAF said in a statement yesterday. According to CAF, the Lagardère Sports agreement was signed “following an extensive period of negotiations” and the only other offer CAF received was “materially and substantially inferior” — and was presented 15 months after the Lagardère agreement was approved. The ECA had accused CAF President Issa Hayatou in January of abusing his controlling position by reaching the agreement with Lagardère Sports a year and a half prior to the expiry of the current one, violating market competition laws and harming the Egyptian economy. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa’s (COMESA) competition commission also launched an investigation last month.