Issa Hayatou, a prominent African soccer leader, passed away at 77. He had a brief stint as FIFA’s interim president during a corruption scandal and a long tenure as head of the Confederation of African Football.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino honored Hayatou’s memory with a heartfelt tribute on Instagram. He praised Hayatou’s dedication to sports administration and passion for soccer, offering condolences to his loved ones and colleagues.
“Saddened to hear of the passing of former CAF president, former FIFA president and interim, FIFA vice-president and FIFA Council member Issa Hayatou.
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.” He wrote.
The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) President Dr Patrice Motsepe also express his condolences
“I express my deepest personal condolences and the condolences of the 54 CAF Member Associations, on the passing of CAF former President, President Issa Hayatou; to his family, the Fédération Camerounaise de Football, its President Samuel Eto’o and the people of Cameroon.
CAF and African Football will forever be grateful to President Hayatou for his enormous and far-reaching contributions, over many years to the development and growth of football in Africa. He will forever live in our hearts and minds.”
Hayatou had a distinguished career in soccer, leading the Confederation of African Football for 29 years and serving on the International Olympic Committee for 15 years. He was a prominent figure in African soccer and beyond.
Hayatou faced challenges in his later years, including a loss in his bid for re-election as CAF president in 2017. He was also investigated by FIFA’s ethics committee and banned from soccer for a year in 2021.
Hayatou’s past included controversies, such as a reprimand from the IOC ethics commission in 2011 for accepting a cash payment from a Swiss marketing agency in 1995. Despite this, he remained a significant figure in African soccer.
Hayatou came from a notable Cameroonian family, with his brother serving as prime minister in the early 1990s. His death occurred in Paris during the Olympics, marking the end of an era in African soccer.
