The President of the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT), Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of multiple financial crimes linked to the mismanagement of international football development funds.
A court in Brazzaville delivered the ruling on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, convicting Mayolas of money laundering, embezzlement, forgery, and illegal conflict of interest. The charges stem from the misappropriation of nearly $1.3 million in development funds provided by FIFA during the COVID-19 period.
According to investigators, the funds were originally earmarked for the development of women’s football and the construction of a training centre aimed at strengthening football infrastructure in Republic of the Congo. However, an eight-month investigation uncovered a network of fraudulent transactions and falsified documentation used to divert the money.
Prosecutors revealed that several financial transfers were channeled through companies allegedly linked to Mayolas, including a firm identified as CATHO, raising serious concerns about conflicts of interest and abuse of office.
The court also handed life sentences in absentia to Mayolas’ wife and son for their alleged involvement in the financial scheme.
Meanwhile, FECOFOOT’s General Secretary, Badji Mombo Wantete, and the federation’s treasurer, Raoul Kanda, were each sentenced to five years in prison for their roles in facilitating the illegal transactions and failing to properly account for the funds.
The case has sent shockwaves through the football community in Congo-Brazzaville and beyond, highlighting persistent concerns about transparency and accountability in the management of international football development funds.
Observers say the scandal could prompt closer scrutiny from FIFA and other football governing bodies over how development funds are managed across national federations, particularly in regions where governance challenges have long been a concern.
The ruling marks one of the most severe punishments handed to a football administrator in the region and underscores growing pressure on sports institutions to uphold financial integrity and good governance.
