The president of the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT), Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas, is facing serious corruption allegations over the misuse of $1.3 million in FIFA funds, including a significant sum earmarked for the development of women’s football in the country.
Mayolas was arrested in late May by Congo’s central intelligence agency and is expected to be charged with forgery and money laundering.
Authorities suspect he embezzled more than $800,000 that had been allocated by FIFA for the construction of a national football training centre in Ingné—an initiative that has stalled for eight years without any tangible progress. All related funds have reportedly been frozen.
In addition, Mayolas is alleged to have diverted $500,000 in COVID-19 relief funds granted by FIFA in 2021 to support the women’s game.
A joint letter signed by the presidents of all women’s football clubs in Congo, submitted to local authorities in March, revealed that only $20,000 was actually distributed to teams.
Investigators believe Mayolas orchestrated a web of shell companies to siphon off football development funds.
While a FIFA ethics committee visited the country in March to assess the situation, an official investigation by the world football governing body is yet to be initiated.
Mayolas, who has been at the helm of FECOFOOT since 2018, is expected to appear before a hearing in Brazzaville later this week.
