The Confederation of Africa CAF has fired on an unfavourable statement made by Napoli President Mr Aurelio De Laurentiis days back. The President in his statement disclosed his displeasure on how the AFCON tournament has not been favourable to his club, in that affect the laments that he will not further sign African players only if such a player will agree to waive his participation for the AFCON tournament.
During the January and February AFCON tournament in Cameroon, the club lost Kalidou Koulibaly and Zambo Anguissa to the AFCON duties.
CAF in their statements urges UEFA to initiate a disciplinary investigation against him as his statement is against UEFA disciplinary regulations.
CAF further said, would the Napoli president make his stiffened policy also include its restrictions on European players and South Americans and Asians?
CAF on their official website said:
“CAF is appalled by the irresponsible and unacceptable remarks made by Napoli President, Mr Aurelio De Laurentiis, on African players and the Africa Cup of Nations.
By publicly declaring that players who sign for Napoli must sign a waiver denouncing participation in the Africa Cup of Nations as a condition of employment, De Laurentiis’ comments are likely to fall under Article 14 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations. CAF, therefore, urges UEFA to initiate a disciplinary investigation against him.
CAF is committed to the role that football plays in Africa, Europe, North and South America, Asia and globally in bringing together and uniting people of different cultures, language groups, races, ethnic groups and religious backgrounds.
We do not doubt that Napoli and UEFA are as committed as CAF is to these global humanitarian objectives.
Are we to assume that the Chairman of Napoli is going to include similar restrictive conditions for players from South America, Asia and other Confederations prohibiting them from playing in their Continental competitions which are important for the development and growth of football globally?
The African Cup of Nations is the flagship competition of the African continent and one of the leading global football competitions. Its last edition in Cameroon was shown in more than 160 countries and attracted more than 600 million viewers.”
