FIFA ethics investigators open case into Congo FA officials over alleged misuse of FIFA funds

FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee investigatory chamber has opened formal proceedings against three senior officials of the Congolese Football Association (FECOFOOT) in connection with alleged financial misconduct involving FIFA funds.FIFA said the case follows “information and documentation” gathered through a FIFA-led review process, which indicated potential irregularities and inconsistencies in the use of FIFA-allocated money.FIFA said: “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.”The investigatory chamber said it has identified a prima facie basis to open proceedings for potential breaches of the FIFA Code of Ethics.The officials under investigation are Jean Guy Mayolas, FECOFOOT president and a member of FIFA’s Media and Communications Committee, alongside FECOFOOT general secretary Wantete Badji and finance director Raoul Kanda.The three men were found guilty on March 10 of "money laundering, forgery and use of forged documents, and embezzlement" by the Brazzaville criminal court.Mayolas was sentenced to life imprisonment for misappropriating more than one million euros ($1.15 million) in funding from the international governing body while Badji and Kanda received five-year prison sentences.FIFA said the conduct under review may amount to potential breaches of the FIFA Code of Ethics, including articles covering misappropriation and misuse of funds, forgery and falsification, conflicts of interest, and offering and accepting gifts and other benefits.It added that the list of potential violations may be modified as further information becomes available.FIFA said it would not comment further while the proceedings are ongoing.The case underscores FIFA’s broader compliance focus around the governance and accounting of its development funding, with member associations required to demonstrate that grants and programme allocations are used for their intended purposes and recorded in line with FIFA reporting requirements.