A report by the Sudanese Democracy First Group revealed corruption in all areas of sport activity in Sudan. The report called for the need to recover the public funds looted in the field of football, the areas of lands taken over from the Khartoum sport city and the sport spaces which have been turned into residential areas, and those involved in the corruption be held accountable.

The report identified a number of proposals for solutions to exit from what it termed as “dark tunnel”, including the recovery of public funds looted in the field of football and called for bringing those involved in corruption to book.

On 6 July, the International Football Association (FIFA) decided to suspend the membership of Sudan because of government intervention in the sport activity in the country after the Ministry of Justice consolidated the position of a group led by a retired general to control the headquarters of the Sudanese Football Union following questionable elections. But about a week from this decision, FIFA lifted the suspension of the membership, saying the government ended its intervention after the Sudanese Presidency overruled the decision of the Ministry of Justice, which helped a group led by Abdul Rahman Sir Al Khatim to control the union headquarters.

“For instance, in the elections at various levels, and in soccer competitions, sports and other facilities, corruption sometimes take place disguised in state garb and sometimes in the garb of the International Football Association, “portraying the sport activity as eligible and democratic.”

The report affirmed that some national institutions directly supervise some of the sports clubs in Sudan, in violation of their constitutional and legal functions, depriving themselves of their supposed national character. It said police supervises a number of clubs such as “Al Nusoor Club and Police Club in Gedaref,” while the Sudanese army supervises “Al Ahli Club“, and the security supervises the “Al Watani Club”.

Source: Sudan Tribune