July 27 – With interesting timing, FIFA has imposed a 10-year ban on the president of Guinea-Bissau’s federation, Manual Nascimento (pictured), over “an incident of mob justice.”
Nascimento, also fined 100,000 Swiss francs, “had breached his duty, as per the FIFA Code of Ethics, to protect the physical and mental integrity of the man who was the victim of the mobbing,” FIFA said giving few further details.
“The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has found Mr Manuel Nascimento, President of the Bissau-Guinean Football Association (FFGB), responsible for having breached his duty to protect the physical and mental integrity of others, in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics,” FIFA said.
“Based on the information, including video material, gathered by the investigatory chamber, Mr Nascimento had breached his duty, as per the FIFA Code of Ethics, to protect the physical and mental integrity of the man who was the victim of the mobbing.
“Consequently, the adjudicatory chamber found that Mr Nascimento had breached art. 23 [Protection of physical and mental integrity] of the FIFA Code of Ethics and sanctioned him with a ban from all football-related activity [administrative, sports or any other] at both national and international level for ten years.”
The verdict was announced 24 hours before scheduled elections at the Guinea-Bissau FA. Nascimento was elected in 2012 and was due to stand for a third four-year term.
A year ago Nascimento was one of those who blasted FIFA’s decision to appoint secretary general Fatma Samoura to take over the management of Africa football saying there was considerable opposition to the move.
“I can tell you that the majority of FA presidents oppose Fatma (coming in),” Nascimento said at the time. “None of them, none of us – even me – we don’t want Fatma to come. Because this is CAF. This belongs to Africa.”
“We need reform to be done. However, whatever happens, the reforms should be done in CAF. What is supposed to be happening … will not be accepted in any confederation in the world, so why should we accept it?”
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