March 26 – FIFA’s Ethics Committee has launched disciplinary proceedings against three senior Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT) officials, including President Jean-Guy Mayolas, over allegations of financial misconduct.
In a brief statement on Wednesday, FIFA said that “the proceedings follow the receipt of information and documentation gathered through a review process initiated by FIFA.”
“This material indicates potential financial irregularities and inconsistencies relating to the use of FIFA‑allocated funds. Based on this information, the investigatory chamber has determined that there is a prima facie basis to open proceedings for potential breaches of the FIFA Code of Ethics.”
The ethics committee will investigate Mayolas as well as Wantete Badji, FECOFOOT’s general secretary and Raoul Kanda, FECOFOOT’s finance director.
They may have violated articles 29, 25, 21 and 20 of the FIFA Ethics Code which deal with misappropriation of funds, forgery and falsification, offering and accepting gifts, and conflicts of interest.
Earlier this month, Mayolas, his wife and his son were sentenced to life in prison after a criminal court in Congolese capital Brazzaville convicted them of embezzling $1.1 million in FIFA funds. Media reports said their whereabouts were not known and they were tried in absentia.
Kanda and Badji were sentenced to five years in prison. Both were present at the hearing.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at [email protected]