Al-Qalam 
The head of African football, Ahmad Ahmad, has been banned from football for five years by FIFA following an ethics investigation by the world football’s governing body.
Ahmad, who is president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), had intended to stand for re-election in March, a campaign in which he would have faced a number of challengers.
The ban was announced during the Madagascan official’s campaign for four more years as the head of CAF. His position also makes him a FIFA vice president.
In a statement on Monday, FIFA said the independent Ethics Committee had found Ahmad guilty of offering and accepting gifts and other benefits, and misappropriation of funds.
FIFA had “sanctioned him with a ban from all football-related activity [administrative, sports or any other] at both national and international level for five years”, it said.
Ahmad, who was also fined 200,000 Swiss francs ($220,000), declined to comment when contacted by the Reuters news agency.
