The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) has announced its renewed commitment to its partnership with beIN, following the resolution of previously disputed matters. beIN and CAF engaged in discussions that have resulted in the restoration of a mutually advantageous partnership. On 1 September, Caf unilaterally ended a 12-year contract, worth $415 million (£333m) and which ran from 2017-2028, with immediate effect. While beIN had stated it will “take all necessary legal steps to challenge and overturn” the cancellation, Caf accused the broadcaster of breaching its contract and instructed its lawyers to recover the outstanding payments. “BeIN owes Caf $98 million and they have refused to pay for nearly two years,” a source close to the matter told BBC Sport Africa. “The last time beIN paid Caf was in February 2022 and that was only after Caf threatened to remove beIN’s rights to broadcast the final stages of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).”

Dr. Patrice Motsepe, the President of CAF, expressed, “CAF is deeply dedicated to promoting and advancing the interests of all sponsors and partners while fostering mutually beneficial relationships with them and all stakeholders. Upholding good governance, ethics, and global best practices is an integral part of CAF’s culture and its approach to conducting business. To ensure that African football becomes globally competitive and self-sustaining, it must reach a world-class standard that appeals to football enthusiasts, sponsors, and partners. Substantial financial resources are also required for investments in youth academies, football clubs, national teams, CAF Member Associations, stadiums, and other football infrastructure and facilities. CAF is enthusiastic about its partnership with beIN and is committed to its growth and expansion, benefiting both parties.”

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