Former president of the Republic of the Congo Football Federation, Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of money laundering, forgery, misuse of forged documents and misappropriation of funds.
Mayolas was tried in absentia after failing to appear in court, and his current whereabouts remain unknown. Prosecutors accused him of diverting around $1.1 million in development funds provided by FIFA, including a $500,000 grant intended to support women’s football during the COVID-19 recovery period.
According to investigators, the federation had pledged to organise women’s competitions and improve sports infrastructure with the funds. However, authorities said the promised projects were never implemented.
Several associates were also convicted in connection with the case. Lionel Mayolas, the former official’s son, received a life sentence, while federation members Badji Mombo Wantete and Raoul Kanda were each sentenced to five years in prison.
The scandal follows growing tensions between the football federation and the Congolese government. In 2024, authorities removed Mayolas from his position, prompting FIFA to suspend the country’s football federation over concerns of government interference. The suspension forced the national team to forfeit two qualifying matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup before it was lifted in May.
Source: Newstimehub
