A criminal court in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, has sentenced former Congolese Football Federation president Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of embezzling funds meant for football development.
The verdict was delivered on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, following an extensive investigation into financial misconduct within the football governing body.
According to prosecutors, Mayolas misappropriated about $1.1 million provided by FIFA. The funds included financial support from FIFA’s COVID-19 relief programme, which was intended to help national football associations maintain operations and develop infrastructure during the pandemic.
Investigators said the money was instead diverted for personal use and other unauthorised expenditures.
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The court found Mayolas guilty on several counts, including money laundering, forgery, misuse of public funds, and conflict of interest.
Authorities also discovered that several football development projects that were meant to be funded by the FIFA grants were never carried out, raising concerns about governance and financial oversight within the federation.
The trial was reportedly conducted in absentia, as Mayolas is currently at large and his whereabouts remain unknown.
The case has renewed calls for stronger transparency and accountability in football administration across Africa, particularly in the management of international development funds provided by global football bodies.
