The president of the Tunisian Football Federation has asked FIFA to intervene in his dispute with the Tunisian government. Jarii hopes that FIFA's threats against the FTF will allow him to emerge victorious from this conflict.
For the past few days, rumors have been swirling after the missive sent by FIFA to the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF). The threat of an exclusion of the Tunisian selection from the next World Cup hovers. And already, the Algerian press sees its Fennecs take the place of the Eagles of Carthage. Except that in fact, an exclusion is almost unthinkable. Explanations.
In Tunisia, it is a power struggle that is played out between the FTF and the government. The all-powerful Wadii Jarii has acted with impunity for many years. “Doctor Jarii” has strong international support. Among the latter, Gianni Infantino. The boss of FIFA still estimated, a month ago, about Jarii, that "what has been accomplished by the Tunisian Football Federation is exceptional, in a country where football is very important".
Jarii always gets out of trouble
However, the doctor is used to controversy, more than achievements in terms of football. Jarii's name has come out several times in cases: that of suspicious bets relating to matches of the US Ben Guerdane, where the president of the FTF comes from, that of the contracts signed with the equipment manufacturer Kappa in 2019, the he affair of the contracts signed with Swiss agencies mandated to find opponents for the selection in 2018 or when Jarii did everything to block the candidacy of Tarek Bouchamaoui to CAF, to protect the Infantino clan.
With Italo-Switzerland, relations resemble exchanges of good practices. And in the controversy surrounding the supposed interference of the Ministry of Sports in the affairs of the FTF, it was Wadii Jarii who asked international bodies to threaten Tunisia with exclusion.
Asked by TV5 Monde, FIFA admits that it was the FTF which alerted FIFA to the words of the Tunisian Minister of Sports and which requested the sending of an official letter signed by Kenny Jean-Marie, representative of FIFA.
“Jarii is playing his usual game, indicates a source close to Tunisian sports authorities. FIFA threatens Tunisia with sanctions and the press goes into overdrive talking about excluding the Carthage Eagles from the World Cup if the political leaders do not leave Jarii alone. However, this is totally false”. Indeed, on the side of FIFA, if we do not exclude sanctions, the latter will not intervene in the weeks to come. But Jarii lets the rumor run, for his own interests.
Incredible that the #FIFA can fly to the aid of the president of the Tunisian federation, Doctor Wadii Jarii, by turning a blind eye to his practices. https://t.co/K8x5vQA9We
— Laurent Pruneta (@PrunetaLaurent) October 28, 2022
Jarii weakened by CAS?
A way therefore, for the boss of the FTF, to be able to continue to act with impunity. And to give the Tunisian government a huge press stunt, while relying on Tunisian public opinion.
No risk. Jarii, the president of the FTF, still uses FIFA to take the government in a pincer movement and give itself the right role (look, they want to interfere at the risk of losing the CDM to the country, which will not happen).
- Romain Molina (@Romain_Molina) October 30, 2022
A way also to forget the last snub of the "doctor". Because in Tunisia, if he remains king, Jarii recently suffered a defeat which could cost him dearly. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has indeed ruled in favor of CS Chebba, who was in open conflict with Jarii who did not want the club to regain its place in the first division. In its dispute with the FTF, CS Chebba emerged victorious. The Ministry of Sports had requested that the start of the 2022-2023 season be delayed, so that Chebba could be reinstated.