Tokyo Sexwale's bid to become Fifa president was doomed as soon as his own confederation refused to back him, SA Football Association head Danny Jordaan said of his compatriot's failed attempt to lead soccer's governing body.
Tokyo Sexwale's bid to become Fifa president was doomed as soon as his own confederation refused to back him, SA Football Association head Danny Jordaan said of his compatriot's failed attempt to lead soccer's governing body.
Businessman Sexwale pulled out of the race, won by Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino, just before voting started last week and Jordaan says Sexwale's chances were dashed when CAF opted to back rival Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.
CAF handed their endorsement to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president at an executive meeting in Rwanda last month, shortly after the Bahraini royal had signed a lucrative co-operation agreement between CAF and the AFC.
"I was at the CAF meeting in Rwanda where Tokyo was present," Jordaan said. "He had a meeting with the CAF executive and I think that there are things that they put to him there as to why they found it difficult to support him. When we left Kigali, it was clear that CAF was not going to support him.
"Jerome Champagne had no endorsement from any continent and neither did Prince Ali and Tokyo, so it was always going to be tough for those candidates who must compete against candidates who actually have two continents endorsing them."
But Jordaan believes Fifa has been strengthened by Infantino's election.
"The reporting lines are clear, the governance of Fifa is strengthened, transparency has been strengthened," he added. "So on the plus side, he comes into a new environment for organising, managing and controlling world football but he's a person that has, I think, significant experience to steer FIFA into calmer waters."
Germany's Kicker magazine, alleged Jordaan did not attend the presidential election in Zurich for fear of arrest in the probe into a $10-million bribe allegedly paid to secure hosting rights for the 2010 World Cup.
Jordaan backs new fifa boss Infantino
Tokyo Sexwale's bid to become Fifa president was doomed as soon as his own confederation refused to back him, SA Football Association head Danny Jordaan said of his compatriot's failed attempt to lead soccer's governing body.
Tokyo Sexwale's bid to become Fifa president was doomed as soon as his own confederation refused to back him, SA Football Association head Danny Jordaan said of his compatriot's failed attempt to lead soccer's governing body.
Businessman Sexwale pulled out of the race, won by Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino, just before voting started last week and Jordaan says Sexwale's chances were dashed when CAF opted to back rival Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.
CAF handed their endorsement to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president at an executive meeting in Rwanda last month, shortly after the Bahraini royal had signed a lucrative co-operation agreement between CAF and the AFC.
"I was at the CAF meeting in Rwanda where Tokyo was present," Jordaan said. "He had a meeting with the CAF executive and I think that there are things that they put to him there as to why they found it difficult to support him. When we left Kigali, it was clear that CAF was not going to support him.
"Jerome Champagne had no endorsement from any continent and neither did Prince Ali and Tokyo, so it was always going to be tough for those candidates who must compete against candidates who actually have two continents endorsing them."
But Jordaan believes Fifa has been strengthened by Infantino's election.
"The reporting lines are clear, the governance of Fifa is strengthened, transparency has been strengthened," he added. "So on the plus side, he comes into a new environment for organising, managing and controlling world football but he's a person that has, I think, significant experience to steer FIFA into calmer waters."
Germany's Kicker magazine, alleged Jordaan did not attend the presidential election in Zurich for fear of arrest in the probe into a $10-million bribe allegedly paid to secure hosting rights for the 2010 World Cup.
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