Issa Hayatou, the former president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has died at the age of 77.
The Cameroonian led CAF for 29 years, from 1988 to 2017.
He also served on FIFA’s executive committee, now known as the FIFA Council, from 1990 to 2017 and briefly acted as FIFA president from 2015 to 2016 following Sepp Blatter’s suspension.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino paid tribute to Hayatou, who was also a track athlete and basketball player in his youth.
“Saddened to hear of the passing of former Caf president, former Fifa president ad interim, Fifa vice president and Fifa council member, Issa Hayatou,” Infantino wrote.
“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.”
In August 2021, FIFA banned Hayatou for one year because he broke its ethics rules with a 2016 deal with the French media company Lagardère, the largest ever for African football.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned this ban in February 2022.
