Togo’s Jonathan Ayité: What CAF Has Done Is Unacceptable

Posted Sunday, January 31, 2010 by PA

The Nimes striker says he feels “scammed” by CAF’s decision to suspend his country for two years due to what was termed as “government interference” after the bus attack in Cabinda.

Togolese international forward Jonathan Ayité is appalled at CAF’s decision to suspend his country’s FA for four years and fine them $50,000 due to “government interference” in the West African nation’s decision to withdraw from the CAN after a devastating machine gun attack that left three members of their delegation killed and others injured.

“It’s a huge disappointment. It is unacceptable to do this. I’m not going to use the right words here but to be scammed like this by CAF… frankly, there is no compassion on their part. I can’t find the words. I do not understand,” he said while speaking to RMC.

Ayité also added that the decision is doubly insulting because CAF officials had assured him and his team-mates that they would not face any kind of suspension in the wake of the attacks if they decided to withdraw from the continental competition.

“Before leaving, the officers told us they would not apply the rules to the letter, that they were going to be lenient. And now, once everyone is back at their club, they bring this out. This is unheard of. I do not know what went through their heads. There are shenanigans in the air. This would not have been done to Cote d’Ivoire.”

Meanwhile, the Togolese Minisiter of Sport, Christophe Tchao, has already made it clear that his country would be appealing CAF’s ruling “through all means available.”