Fifa has launched an investigation into Jean-Guy Mayolas, the president of the Congolese Football Federation (Fecofoot), per Reuters. A court in Brazzaville sentenced Mayolas to life imprisonment earlier this month for embezzling $1.1m in Fifa funds. The official remains on the run after failing to appear for his trial.
Mayolas's wife and son were also convicted and are currently in custody, according to The Guardian. The court found them guilty of involvement in the misappropriation of funds intended for football development in the Republic of Congo. Fifa officials stated the organisation is monitoring the situation closely and will take appropriate ethical measures.
Local authorities have issued an international arrest warrant for Mayolas. The federation's vice-president has assumed interim control of Fecofoot while the legal proceedings continue. Fifa confirmed it maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding the financial mismanagement of its member associations. This investigation follows a series of audits conducted into the federation's accounts over the last two years.
