Two Congolese Football Federation members arrested over embezzlement of FIFA funds

The Fédération Congolaise de Football (FECOFOOT) has expressed outrage over what it describes as the “disproportionate” arrest of two of its senior officials on Thursday.

In a statement issued on February 27, the federation confirmed that its Secretary General, Badi Mombé Wantete, and the Head of Finance, Raoul Kanda, were arrested at their respective homes around 5 a.m.

While acknowledging that a legal procedure is ongoing, FECOFOOT stressed that both officials have consistently made themselves available to respond to summons from Congolese judicial authorities.

The federation questioned the necessity of what it termed a dawn operation against individuals who, in its view, presented no risk of evasion and had provided sufficient guarantees of representation.

The executive committee strongly denounced the manner of the arrests, arguing that the intervention was excessive and undermined the dignity of the individuals involved.

According to the statement, the use of nighttime methods appeared aimed more at intimidation than at serving justice.

FECOFOOT further warned against what it called the instrumentalisation of judicial procedures, cautioning that such actions risk casting unwarranted suspicion on citizens who are presumed innocent.

The federation has called for strict respect for the physical and moral integrity of the two officials and urged the judicial authorities to ensure that due process is upheld in a transparent and equitable manner, free from external pressure.

It also confirmed that both FIFA and Confederation of African Football have been formally informed of the situation as developments continue to unfold.