In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a court has sentenced the president of the country's Football Federation, Jean-Guy Blez Mayolas, to life imprisonment on charges of financial crimes.
The verdict was the result of an eight-month investigation, during which it was revealed that Mayolas used his official powers for personal gain and embezzled funds intended for the development of football infrastructure.
The court found him guilty of several crimes, including money laundering, embezzlement, forgery, and the use of false documents. This decision was made in the absence of Mayolas in the courtroom.
Two other high-profile officials of the federation were also convicted in this case. Secretary General Badji Mombo Vantete and Treasurer Raoul Kanda received five years of imprisonment each.
Officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo noted that this verdict underscores the government's serious approach to combating corruption in the sports sector and its commitment to increasing transparency in football management.
