A court in Brazzaville has sentenced Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas, the president of the Congolese Football Federation, to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of multiple corruption-related offences.
The verdict was delivered on Tuesday following an eight-month investigation into alleged financial misconduct within the football governing body.
According to reports, the court found Mayolas guilty of money laundering, embezzlement, forgery, and the use of forged documents. The ruling was issued in his absence, as the football administrator is currently on the run.
Investigators revealed that the case involved the misappropriation of about $1.3 million in development funds provided by FIFA. The money was reportedly meant for women’s football development and infrastructure projects, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The corruption probe also implicated members of Mayolas’s immediate family. Both his wife and son were convicted for their roles in the scheme and were also handed life sentences.
The court’s ruling extended beyond the federation’s top leadership, with other senior officials also facing punishment.
The Secretary General of FECOFOOT, Badji Mombo Wantete, and the federation’s treasurer, Raoul Kanda, were each sentenced to five years in prison for their involvement in the fraudulent activities.
The convictions mark the climax of a period of intense scrutiny surrounding the Congolese football body, which had previously faced sanctions and suspension from international activities by FIFA over governance concerns.
Observers say the court’s decision represents a strong attempt by authorities to address longstanding financial mismanagement within the country’s football administration and restore credibility to the sport.
