The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has slammed Uefa president Michel Platini for giving his opinion on whether the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) should be called off over Ebola fears.
During a televised debate on Sunday, the Frenchman questioned whether the tournament – scheduled to be held between January 17 and February 8 next year – should be postponed due to the outbreak of the virus in west Africa.
“In Morocco they are right to ask themselves about the organisation – or not – of the Afcon,” Platini told beIN Sport.
“They should contact the World Health Organisation to know if there is risk or not to play it. I think the health of the people is an absolute priority. It would not be easy to postpone it, the football calendar is extremely packed already.”
However, Caf, yet to confirm where the tournament will be held after planned hosts Morocco requested a postponement, has urged Platini to concentrate on his own affairs.
“The president of Uefa, Michel Platini, found it necessary to question maintaining the scheduled date of the Afcon,” a statement from Caf read.
“The issue has been debated and has been in the public domain the last few days following a request for postponement by Morocco due to the Ebola outbreak.
“Caf, under the leadership of its president, Issa Hayatou, has always promoted free expression within it. Far from it, therefore, can it claim to deprive anyone latitude to express themselves. But we must beware of what appears in every way as interference by a president of a confederation, in cases involving first and foremost Africa and Caf.”
Caf then took an opportunity to bite back at Uefa, firing veiled criticism at Europe’s football governing body for not banning Ukrainian teams from its tournaments following military action in the eastern European nation.
“Under the principle of non-interference required to comply, Caf has refrained so far to comment on some issues on the managing of European football or any other continent,” the statement continued.
“Despite the risks involved in armed conflict in Ukraine, a country where a civilian plane was shot down killing nearly 300 people, Uefa did not consider it necessary to exclude Ukrainian clubs from its competitions as a security parameter by hosting games outside this nation, as treacherously raised once it is about Africa.
“Caf hereby reaffirms the importance it attaches to respect of its sovereignty and does not intend to let anyone interfere in the management of its affairs.”
(Goal)