Authorities in Congo-Brazzaville have requested an Interpol arrest warrant for Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas, president of the national football federation (Fecofoot), after he was convicted in absentia of embezzling $1.1 million in FIFA funds.
Mayolas, his wife, and son were sentenced to life imprisonment earlier this month but fled before trial. Investigators believe they may be hiding in Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Brazzaville court also jailed Fecofoot’s general secretary, Badji Mombo Wantete, and treasurer, Raoul Kanda, for five years.
The case centers on FIFA’s Covid-19 relief funds, including $500,000 earmarked for the women’s team, of which only $20,000 was distributed.
FIFA has launched disciplinary proceedings against the officials, who had previously been banned for ethics violations.
The scandal has already disrupted Congo’s football program, leading to forfeited World Cup qualifiers last year.
