By Olaolu Fawole
The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has banned Mr Jonathan Bukabakwa, a former youth coach at clubs of the Urban Football Agreement of the regions of Lipopo and Malebo in Congo DR, from all football-related activities for 20 years.
Mr. Bukabakwa was banned after having found him guilty of sexually abusing a minor football player and in addition, the adjudicatory chamber imposed a fine of CHF 100,000 on Mr Bukabakwa.
According to a statement issued by FIFA, the case arose following serious allegations related to the sexual abuse of minors in the Congo DR Football Association (FECOFA) that were made on several media platforms, in which various football coaches of different regions and leagues in Congo DR were accused of having abused minor players.
FIFA had earlier this year, suspended Mr Bukabakwa for five months.
It states further that, in deciding the case, the adjudicatory chamber took into account the evidence collected during the investigations and was comfortably satisfied that Mr Bukabakwa had breached article 24 (Protection of physical and mental integrity) of the Code of Ethics and the terms of the decision were notified to Mr Bukabakwa on Friday, October 2023, the date on which the ban comes into force, and will be followed by the notification of the grounds within the next 60 days in accordance with the FIFA Code of Ethics.
The statement adds that the decision taken by the adjudicatory chamber was in line with FIFA’s zero tolerance approach to all forms of abuse in football.
The world football’s governing body has regularly updated its regulatory framework in recent years to provide greater protection to victims of discrimination and sexual abuse or harassment.
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