Rabat – Authorities in Congo-Brazzaville pursued for an international arrest warrant against Fecofoot President Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas after he was found guilty of misappropriating $1.1 million in FIFA funds.
Mayolas fled the Republic of Congo-Brazzaville, accompanied by his wife and son, just days before appealing in court in a corruption case for embezzling funds provided by FIFA as part of its COVID 19 relief plan in February 2021. Investigators suspect that Mayols and his family may be hiding in Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of Congo
According to The Guardian, Mayolas allegedly redirected over $500,000 in FIFA development funds meant for the construction of a national football training center in Ingné – a project that was supposed to be completed eight years ago but remains unfinished. The report states that all funds have been frozen, with no visible progress on the ground.
Mayolas and his family were found guilty of money laundering, forgery, use of forged documents, and embezzlement on March 10 in Brazzaville, alongside Fecofoot’s general secretary Badji Mombo Wantete and treasurer Raoul Kanda, who were each sentenced to five years in prison.
Following the verdict, authorities moved quickly and issued an international appeal for arrest through Interpol in an attempt to locate Mayolas and his family.
Meanwhile, FIFA has initiated disciplinary action against Mayolas, Wantete, and Kanda for alleged financial misconduct, including conflicts of interest, forgery, and improper acceptance of gifts, after its Ethics Committee reviewed relevant documents and information.
This case ranks among the gravest corruption cases in African football in recent times, undermining the initiatives by football authorities to enhance transparency and strengthen accountability across the continent.
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