FEMAFOOT: will General Assembly bolster president Bavieux?
Originally scheduled for 28 February before being postponed, the FEMAFOOT General Assembly will now take place on 17 March
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After standing up to the ministry, which wanted the General Assembly suspended, FEMAFOOT gave way, citing a lack of time to put together the observations provided by FIFA, notably on its draft overhaul of the statutes.
To ease the open conflict with sports minister Abdoul Kassim Fomba, several federation officials have agreed to a meeting to explain their position and, in particular, the changes to the texts.
While most of the statutes will remain as they are – except for the responsibilities of the regional leagues, which will have to send FEMAFOOT's general secretariat the minutes of every statutory meeting within 30 days – a new paragraph has been added to article 42, which covers the role of the president:
"In the event of the President's absence or incapacity, his powers shall be exercised automatically by one of the Vice-Presidents in order of precedence or, failing that, by the member of the Executive Committee appointed by the president."
An article providing for the president's absence or incapacity
Imprisoned for more than a year and a half over matters relating to his term in the National Assembly, Bavieux Touré is still running the federation, which inevitably fuels debate.
Read also: Mali: Mamoutou Touré, known as "Bavieux Touré", one year in detention
To remain compliant with the statutes, the Executive Committee therefore no longer meets once a month as planned. The ministry sees that as an aberration, but it is a necessity for the FEMAFOOT president so as not to breach this article in the statutes:
"Any position within the Executive Committee shall be considered vacant in the event of the death or resignation of the member concerned, or if he or she is permanently unable to carry out his or her duties, or unavailable for six (06) consecutive Executive Committee sessions, except in cases of force majeure."
In the proposed amendment to the statutes, this text is still there, but the addition of the paragraph "in the event of the President's absence or incapacity " clearly shows FEMAFOOT's determination to close ranks around Bavieux. Likewise, the term of office could now be staggered if the election cannot be held by the end of the scheduled four years.
All these changes, along with the 2025 budget, must now be approved by the General Assembly, convened for 17 March.