In a letter addressed to the Congolese Football Association (FECOFA), FIFA has issued a warning of potential sanctions against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for local authorities’ interference in the federation’s internal affairs.
The DRC is under scrutiny by FIFA. The international football governing body has threatened to suspend the country for the interference of local authorities in the management of the Congolese federation. In a letter sent to FECOFA, the administration of Gianni Infantino highlighted the recent decisions made by the Ministry of Sports concerning the national championship.
The ministry issued a statement banning the use of the Stade des Martyrs and Tata Raphael. However, more than this directive, it is the ministry’s involvement in implementing reforms regarding the format for this season that has caused concern. According to sources, the Congolese government is opposed to the idea of organizing the championship by zones, a format that has faced criticism in the few African countries that continue to adopt it, including Benin.
FIFA deems these actions as outside the scope of supervisory authorities and labels them as interference. Consequently, FIFA warns that if the situation persists, sanctions including the suspension of the federation could be imposed. For now, the Normalization Committee is maintaining its decision to hold a zonal championship this season. It’s worth noting that the Congolese championship is set to begin this Wednesday with matches from the first round. This situation continues to unfold…
