Sport
Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas was convicted of embezzling $1.1 million in FIFA funds and sentenced to life in prison, although his whereabouts were not immediately known.
A court in Brazzaville has sentenced former football federation president Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas to life in prison after finding him guilty of embezzling funds from FIFA.
Mayolas, who once led the football federation of the Republic of the Congo, was convicted of money laundering, forgery, use of forged documents, and misappropriation of funds. He was tried in absentia after failing to appear in court, and his current whereabouts are unknown.
Prosecutors said he diverted about $1.1 million that FIFA had provided to support football development in the country. The funds included a $500,000 grant intended to promote women’s football during the COVID-19 recovery period. Authorities said the federation had promised to organize women’s competitions and improve sports infrastructure, but those projects were never carried out.
Several associates were also convicted. Mayolas’ son, Lionel Mayolas, received a life sentence as well, while federation officials Badji Mombo Wantete and Raoul Kanda were each sentenced to five years in prison for their roles in the case.
The scandal follows tensions between the federation and the government. In 2024, authorities removed Mayolas from office, prompting FIFA to suspend the country’s football federation due to concerns about government interference. The suspension caused the national team to forfeit two qualifying matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup before it was lifted in May.
source: Newstimehub
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