Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas, the head of the Congolese Football Federation, has been handed a life prison sentence after a court in Brazzaville found him guilty in a major corruption case involving football development funds.
The ruling was delivered on Tuesday by a criminal court in the Congolese capital, which convicted Mayolas on several charges including embezzlement, money laundering, and document forgery.
According to prosecutors, Mayolas orchestrated a scheme that diverted approximately $1.3 million allocated by FIFA for football development initiatives. The funding was intended to support women’s football programmes and help the sport recover from disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Investigators said that part of the money—about $500,000 from FIFA’s COVID-19 relief programme—was meant to boost women’s football activities and improve infrastructure. Instead, authorities allege the funds were redirected through fraudulent transactions and falsified paperwork for personal gain.
Mayolas did not attend the court session when the judgment was announced and was sentenced in his absence. Officials say his current location is unknown, and he is now being treated as a fugitive.
The court also convicted several relatives and associates linked to the case. Mayolas’ wife and son received life sentences after being found guilty of taking part in the misappropriation of funds.
Meanwhile, Badji Mombo Wantete, the federation’s general secretary, and treasurer Raoul Kanda were each sentenced to five years in prison for their involvement in the financial misconduct.