Former president of the Congolese Football Federation, Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas, was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday after being convicted of embezzling $1.1 million in funding from FIFA.
A criminal court in Brazzaville found Mayolas guilty of money laundering, forgery, using forged documents, and misappropriation of funds. He was tried in absentia after failing to appear in court, and his current whereabouts remain unknown.
Several of his associates were also convicted in the case. His son, Lionel Mayolas, received a life sentence on the same charges and was also tried in absentia. Meanwhile, federation secretary general Badji Mombo Wantete and treasurer Raoul Kanda were each sentenced to five years in prison for their role in the scheme.
Prosecutors said Mayolas diverted approximately $1.1 million in FIFA funding that had been allocated to support football development in the country. The funds included a $500,000 grant meant to support women’s football through FIFA’s COVID-19 relief program.
Authorities said the federation had pledged to use the money to organise women’s competitions and upgrade football infrastructure. However, investigators found that those projects were never carried out.
FIFA maintains that it regularly audits member federations to ensure that development funds are used for their intended purposes.
Last year, FIFA suspended the Congolese federation after the government of the Republic of the Congo removed Mayolas from office in September 2024, citing third-party interference in football governance.
During the suspension, the national team forfeited two qualifying matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The suspension was lifted in May.
