History of CAF - Tense FIFA-CAF Relationship

Tense FIFA-CAF Relationship

Although the protracted battle on the issue of Apartheid had caused numerous disagreements in successive FIFA Congresses; none came near to a breaking point as the scheme encouraged by Sir Stanley Rous, to establish a separate FIFA recognized regional Southern African Confederation, consisting mainly, of South Africa, Rhodesia, Mauritius, Madagascar, Botswana and Malawi, with the obvious intent of facilitating unchallenged readmission of Apartheid.

African Football leaders came across copies of the confidential communications on the issue and made it clear to Sir Stanley during an informal discussion just before the opening of the 1966 Congress in London, that all African Associations would walkout of the Conference Hall, if FIFA was not to withdraw its unofficial support to the divisive establishment of two independent Confederations in one continent. In a compromise last minute arrangement Sir Stanley retreated, avoiding the eminent walkout by all African Associations from this Congress and the ensuing publicity it would have provoked. This was a point in time when FIFA-CAF relations were strained to the limit, subsequent to the already declared African boycott of the 1966 FIFA World Cup hosted by England, refusing to share a single place with Asia. This was why, North Korea, winners of the Asian qualifiers got automatic spot in the finals, representing the two continents.