Congo: Mayolas summoned by Interior Ministry
Congo: Mayolas summoned by the Interior Ministry. A hearing that could prove costly for the FECOFOOT president
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For several weeks, the Centrale d’intelligence et de documentation (the intelligence and documentation agency) had been compiling financial data relating to the activities of FECOFOOT and several of its officials, in particular president Mayolas.
Summoned a few weeks ago, he was asked to provide factual evidence and supporting documents relating to around ten companies that had invoiced FECOFOOT for large sums. These were supposedly Congo-based firms of which the Interior Ministry could find no trace, and which, incidentally, bore the names of certain members of Mayolas's family.
Funds diverted to shell companies?
While two of the companies were indeed real, the gap between the invoices issued by the company and those recorded by the federation raised questions.
The summons also concerns Badji Mombo Wantete, the general secretary who signed the financial documents. Other officials are also in the sights of the Centrale d’intelligence et de documentation, which has now been going through the banking activities of several people linked to FECOFOOT for some time.
The federation, for its part, has expressed outrage at what it calls a legal and media witch-hunt orchestrated, in its words, "by the sports ministry", pointing out in a statement that this had already led to FIFA suspending football activities.
FIFA remains silent on the suspicious use of its funding, particularly for women's football, and its Ethics Committee is still examining the financial documents to decide whether to formally open an investigation into FECOFOOT's financial management.
Romain MOLINA