FIFA has intervened in the escalating crisis within the Congolese Football Federation (Fécofoot), ordering the suspension of a general meeting scheduled for September 25 in Brazzaville, the country’s capital.
The meeting, called by a group of club leaders aiming to address ongoing issues in Congolese football, was halted after FIFA, in coordination with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), expressed concerns over its legitimacy.
In a letter dated September 23, FIFA highlighted discrepancies in the petition calling for the meeting, with several supposed signatories denying their involvement or authority to represent Fécofoot members.
The crisis has intensified, with some leaders pushing for reforms amidst allegations of mismanagement and poor governance.
FIFA also raised alarm over reports of police intervention at Fécofoot’s technical centre, which led to the suspension of the national women’s football championship.
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To address the situation, FIFA and CAF plan to send a joint delegation to Fécofoot, engaging stakeholders and providing recommendations for the federation’s next steps in an effort to stabilise football governance in the region and ensure a fair resolution to the ongoing disputes.
The news breaks just two months on from a meeting between FIFA and Fecofoot in Paris, which discussed the growth of Congolese football.
Speaking in July, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “I was delighted to meet the President of the Congolese Football Association, Jean Guy Mayolas, as I visited the Congolese capital Brazzaville in 2021 and was happy to see that FECOFOOT has been doing an excellent job of growing football in the country.
“President Mayolas has been a great supporter of FIFA’s efforts to develop our sport in this beautiful region of Africa and I wish him all the best for the future,” Infantino added.
That visit preceded investment in a new technical centre in Ignié, which saw the installation of two artificial pitches, the second of which is now floodlit.
