By Andrew Warshaw
September 22 – Isha Johansen, the female head of Sierra Leone’s football association who was detained for 24 hours for alleged misappropriation of FIFA funds, has won the backing of the world governing body which says no such misuse took place.
Johansen, the only female president of an African federation, was held earlier this month with SLFA vice-president Brima Mazola Kamara and secretary general Christopher Kamara by the country’s anti-corruption commission but no charges were brought.
Johansen, who vehemently denies any fraudulent activity, wrote on social media afterwards she suspected it was “all part of dirty Sierra Leone football politics” and FIFA have now come to her aid.
“FIFA has no reason to suspect there has been misuse of funds that Fifa has provided to the SLFA,” FIFA wrote in a letter to the SLFA whilst warning the Sierra Leone authorities not to meddle in football business.
“Over the course of the last three years, FIFA has noticed several activities of third parties that could be considered as interference (in) the running of the SLFA,” FIFA said.
“These have caused continuous instability to the legitimate and recognised leadership of the federation,” said the FIFA letter, a copy of which was sent to the Confederation of African Football (CAF),
“FIFA urges the relevant Sierra Leone authorities – in particular the Ministry of Sports and the Anti-Corruption Commission – to allow the SLFA to conduct its affairs and activities without unnecessary obstruction as no FIFA regulations have been contravened with regards to the FIFA funding.”
The letter, emailed to Johansen’s office and seen by Insideworldfootball, was signed by FIFA general secretary Fatma Samoura who said she would be personally travelling to the country to discuss the dispute.
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