A section of the media, relying on statements attributed to officials of some CAF member associations, are regrettably causing confusion between the marketing of the commercial rights of CAF competitions and the proposed centralisation of TV rights for the qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018.
The confusion thus stems from the probable ignorance of the stakeholders of CAF regulatory dispositions, or a manifest willingness to systematically smear the image of the institution.
The confusion thus stems from the probable ignorance of the stakeholders of CAF regulatory dispositions, or a manifest willingness to systematically smear the image of the institution.
In order to dissipate the misunderstanding amongst public opinion, and thwart the way to misinformation, it is worthwhile to make the following clarifications:
· In conformity with Articles 58 and 59 of the CAF statutes, the latter relates exclusively to the marketing rights of competitions that CAF organizes, preliminary or final phases, including the Africa Cup of Nations especially and the Champions League.
· It is the responsibility of CAF to determine the type of operation and the extent of the use of these rights, and to enact provisions to this effect following international standards of business management.
· CAF is therefore sovereign to assign the total or partial exploitation of the commercial rights of its competitions to chosen partners.
To question the validity of this approach and the ability of CAF to sign contracts for its own competitions is simply absurd.
On the other hand, TV and sponsorship rights for the qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 are the property of FIFA, with the latter handing back these rights to member associations, as was the case for the 2014 edition.
· In the continuous quest to promote solidarity among its members, CAF carried out an operation to centralise the TV rights of the qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 for the Africa zone, where every member association willingly adhered to the process.
· This centralisation made 50 member associations (out of 54) to receive revenues greater than what they would have obtained if each member had separately marketed its TV rights.
· Satisfied with how the operation went during the 2014 edition, the CAF member associations expressed the wish to have it done again for the qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018. A wish that was unanimously affirmed in Sao Paulo in June 2014 during CAF General Assembly, and reaffirmed at the General Assembly in Cairo in April 2015.
· Thus, every member association has been regularly informed since two years of the implications of renewing the operation and manner of the negotiations, with the sole aim of financially supporting the vast majority of the member associations of CAF.
· No obligation to adhere to the centralisation was made to member associations, each having the right to adhere or to directly market its TV rights.
· 51 member associations have already confirmed in writing their wish to extend the centralization of TV rights for the qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018.
Therefore the distinction should be made between competitions organised by CAF, for which the Confederation exclusively holds all the rights, and the centralisation of TV rights of the qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup of which CAF was mandated by member associations.
· In conformity with Articles 58 and 59 of the CAF statutes, the latter relates exclusively to the marketing rights of competitions that CAF organizes, preliminary or final phases, including the Africa Cup of Nations especially and the Champions League.
· It is the responsibility of CAF to determine the type of operation and the extent of the use of these rights, and to enact provisions to this effect following international standards of business management.
· CAF is therefore sovereign to assign the total or partial exploitation of the commercial rights of its competitions to chosen partners.
To question the validity of this approach and the ability of CAF to sign contracts for its own competitions is simply absurd.
On the other hand, TV and sponsorship rights for the qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 are the property of FIFA, with the latter handing back these rights to member associations, as was the case for the 2014 edition.
· In the continuous quest to promote solidarity among its members, CAF carried out an operation to centralise the TV rights of the qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 for the Africa zone, where every member association willingly adhered to the process.
· This centralisation made 50 member associations (out of 54) to receive revenues greater than what they would have obtained if each member had separately marketed its TV rights.
· Satisfied with how the operation went during the 2014 edition, the CAF member associations expressed the wish to have it done again for the qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018. A wish that was unanimously affirmed in Sao Paulo in June 2014 during CAF General Assembly, and reaffirmed at the General Assembly in Cairo in April 2015.
· Thus, every member association has been regularly informed since two years of the implications of renewing the operation and manner of the negotiations, with the sole aim of financially supporting the vast majority of the member associations of CAF.
· No obligation to adhere to the centralisation was made to member associations, each having the right to adhere or to directly market its TV rights.
· 51 member associations have already confirmed in writing their wish to extend the centralization of TV rights for the qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018.
Therefore the distinction should be made between competitions organised by CAF, for which the Confederation exclusively holds all the rights, and the centralisation of TV rights of the qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup of which CAF was mandated by member associations.
By: Cafonline.com
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