CAS orders FECOFA to restart election after reinstating two candidates

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ordered the FECOFA electoral process to be restarted after overturning the disqualification of two candidates, ruling that their exclusion from the race was unjustified.

The decision clears the way for Jean-Max Mayaka and Guy Kabeya Muana Kalala to return to the contest after the Congolese football federation’s electoral commission had previously barred them from standing. CAS found in their favour and directed that both candidates be immediately reinstated.

The ruling also identified procedural shortcomings in the way the electoral process had been conducted.

According to the tribunal, the exclusions were not supported by the federation’s own rules and highlighted violations of FECOFA’s statutes during the handling of the process.

As a result, the federation’s electoral timetable has been disrupted, requiring the process to begin again under revised conditions.

Responsibility for implementing the ruling now falls to the FECOFA Normalization Committee (CONOR), which has been tasked with reorganising the election in line with the federation’s regulations.

The committee will be expected to ensure that the revised process complies with the legal framework governing the federation’s elections.

The impact of the decision extends beyond the reinstatement of the two candidates. It reinforces the principle that elections within football governing bodies must be conducted according to established legal procedures, with transparency and equal treatment for every candidate.

Throughout the dispute, Jean-Max Mayaka maintained that his position was based on the consistent and impartial application of the federation’s rules rather than the pursuit of special consideration.

The CAS ruling has now restored his place in the electoral process alongside Guy Kabeya Muana Kalala.

The judgment also places renewed attention on FECOFA’s governance as preparations begin for a revised election. The federation is now required to adjust its electoral framework following the tribunal’s findings and ensure that future procedures comply with its statutes.

CONOR will oversee the next stages of the process, with the aim of organising an election that meets the federation’s regulatory requirements while aligning its governance framework with FIFA standards.

The CAS decision marks a significant development in the federation’s leadership process, resetting the election and requiring FECOFA to address the procedural issues identified by the sports tribunal before voting can resume.