Five officials suspended over sexual abuse in Congo
Sexual abuse in Congolese football: five officials suspended. That is the decision announced by the Congolese Football Federation.
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Following revelations by Sport News Africa about paedophile networks and sexual abuse plaguing football in the Democratic Republic of Congo, people had begun to speak out on the other side of the river, mainly in women's football.
Read also: Sexual abuse in Congolese football: people are starting to speak out
Although a code of silence prevailed, a group of journalists has managed in recent weeks to expose several cases, including Ramsi Koutounda, the founder of Ndembomag. On Sunday 26 May, on the channel Ziana TV, Koutounda and the author of this article took part in a programme devoted specifically to sexual abuse, during which Fecofoot president Jean Guy Blaise Mayolas intervened live by message, then held a press conference four days later.
Having promised to act, Mayolas handed the sexual abuse case to the federation's Ethics Commission. A first ruling was swiftly announced through its president, Mr Alphonse Dianguitoukoulou, with five officials suspended from all football-related activities for ten months:
- Ulrich Bakouetela (Tula Ka Tula)
- René Ondaye (president of Epah Ngamba)
- Césaire Léandre Samba (vice-president of AC Colombe)
- Riga Obambi (Galactic Excellence)
- Ibrahim Mietoukouenda (vice-president of AC Colombe)
The accused have five days to "submit their position" to the president of the judging chamber of Fecofoot's Ethics Commission.
Harsher sanctions could also follow, along with the opening of criminal investigations.