The head of the Republic of the Congo’s football governing body, Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas, is facing serious allegations of embezzling approximately US$1.3 million in funds provided by FIFA — with nearly US$500,000 allegedly intended for the national women’s team.
Mayolas, who has led the Congo Football Federation (Fecofoot) since 2018, is under investigation for suspected money laundering and forgery.
He was summoned for a hearing in Brazzaville this week following his arrest by the Central Intelligence and Documentation Office (CID), a division of the Ministry of the Interior, in late May.
He and Fecofoot’s general secretary, Badji Mombo Wantete, have denied the allegations, describing them as a politically motivated plot.
Authorities claim that Mayolas used a network of front companies to siphon funds from FIFA.
A letter submitted to Congolese officials in March by leaders of every top-tier women’s football club alleged that only US$20,000 of the US$500,000 FIFA allocated for COVID-19 relief in 2021 was actually distributed.
Mayolas is also accused of misappropriating US$800,000 designated for the national training center in Ignié. The facility, which was supposed to be completed years ago, remains unfinished and in poor condition.
“All the money has been frozen, and no progress has been made,” said a source familiar with the situation. “It’s unclear what happened to the rest of the funds.”
Neither Mayolas nor Wantete responded to media inquiries. Both officials were previously suspended by FIFA for six months in 2015 for accepting improper benefits while Mayolas served as Fecofoot’s vice-president.
Earlier this year, Congo’s Ministry of Sports suspended Mayolas amid a fraud investigation. In response, FIFA banned the national team from international competition, citing government interference.
As a result, Congo forfeited World Cup qualifiers against Tanzania and Zambia in March, each with a 3-0 scoreline.
Congo was later reinstated in May after Fecofoot regained access to its Brazzaville headquarters.
However, Mayolas and Wantete were barred from attending FIFA’s congress in Paraguay and were arrested shortly afterward.
Sources indicate that FIFA’s ethics committee visited the Republic of the Congo in March to assess the situation, though no formal investigation has been announced. FIFA has not issued any public comment on the matter.
ALSO READ : Truck Company Ordered to Repair Damage at Trabablas Interchange
