FIFA ‘requests suspension’ of Ivorian federation election

FIFA have called on the Ivory Coast Football Federation (FIF) to halt its election campaign after Didier Drogba’s bid was rejected, a letter seen by AFP on Friday showed.

FIF’s election has turned into a soap opera marred by incessant infighting and on Thursday the former Chelsea forward’s candidacy was thrown out as he had only received the official support of two of a required four Ivorian clubs.

“We request the suspension of all action in relation to the election process until further notice,” the document dated August 27 and sent to FIF said.

Drogba’s election team said on Thursday it expected FIF’s decision which claimed he was ineligible to run for the position.

“Drogba’s staff isn’t surprised by this decision to reject the bid. But we remain unfazed. We will react to conform to the texts which surround this election,” Mahamadou Sangare, a member of Drogba’s team, told AFP.

Drogba also has the backing of the association for the former and its current players equivalent and has five days to appeal FIF’s decision.

View this post on Instagram

Week-end très enrichissant à tous points de vue… Samedi, à Yamoussoukro, j’ai pris part à l’Assemblée Générale en prélude du lancement de ma campagne pour la Présidence de la FIF, ce qui m’a permis de communier avec l’ensemble des acteurs du football Ivoirien. Je remercie les autorités de la région du Gbèkê pour leur accueil chaleureux Dimanche à Bouaké. C’est un honneur pour moi d’avoir été fait citoyen d’honneur de la ville de Bouaké. Merci Monsieur le Ministre @amadou_kone_officiel et Monsieur Djibo Nicolas, Maire de la ville de Bouaké Je reviens bientôt ! DD – Dahizokoh – Tito – Gbagbadêh – Aka Nanan Koua Daly

A post shared by didierdrogba (@didierdrogba) on Jul 6, 2020 at 10:30am PDT

Read Also: Juventus dream Messi, Ronaldo combination

The ex-Elephants captain is standing against FIF’s former third vice-president Idriss Diallo, as well as the current vice-president of the national body and president of the League Sory Diabate.

Earlier in August world football’s governing body had called on FIF to cancel its election due to the situation.

The post FIFA ‘requests suspension’ of Ivorian federation election appeared first on Sporting Life.