Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Ahmad Ahmad has been denied a United States visa for this week’s FIFA council meetings in Miami, BBC reports.

The reason for the visa denial is still unknown as the US government does not prohibit travel by Malagasy citizens.

The 59-year-old is a key ally of FIFA President Gianni Infantino and would have been one of the important voices of support for Infantino’s global calendar plans.

Ahmad’s visa denial is an unusual development for such a high-level official attending a meeting in the US.

“I confirm the information,” CAF spokesperson Nathalie Rabe told BBC Sport.

“I am sorry (but) I don’t have more information (about the decision to deny his visa).”

“I just know that the President will be in Cairo (on Thursday).”

The FIFA Council meeting is set for Friday in Miami, where plans for a possible expansion of the 2022 World Cup from 32 to 48 teams will be discussed.

Ahmad was elected CAF president in March 2017, replacing Issa Hayatou.

Ahmad has however faced recent criticism of violating the statutes of African football’s ruling body as regards the redistribution of the 2021, 2023 and 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as well as various commercial deals.