Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Ahmad Ahmad has been banned from all football related-activity for five years for various codes of ethics violations, world football governing body FIFA announced on Monday.

The ban which is effective immediately was communicated to Ahmad today, and he has also been fined CHF 200,000 (two hundred thousand Swiss Francs).

The 60-year-old Malagasy national, who took a leave of absence from his position at CAF to fully recover from Covid-19, was found guilty of violating codes relating to duty of loyalty, offering and accepting gifts abuse of position as well as misappropriation of funds.

“The investigation into Mr Ahmad’s conduct … from 2017 to 2019 concerned various CAF-related governance issues, including the organisation and financing of ah Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca, his involvement in CAF’s dealing with the sports equipment company Tactical Steel and other activities,” a FIFA statement read.

Mr Ahmad, a FIFA vice-president, has previously denied any wrongdoing.

The full grounds for the guilty verdict will be communicated to Ahmad in the next 60 days, FIFA said.

Only then would he be able to appeal his sanction at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Ahmad, who was first elected CAF president in 2017 announced his intention, last month, to seek a second term in office when CAF elections take place next March.

This is now in serious doubt as he would have to pass an eligibility test to resume his place on the FIFA Council.

To be eligible to run for reelection, Ahmad will not only need to win his appeal at CAS, but he must also ensure the appeal is heard early enough to allow him to be confirmed as a candidate.