Many media outlets reported on severe allegations of sexual abuse of youngsters within the Congolese Federation of Football Association (FECOFA) during the beginning of November 2022.
Particularly, a number of coaches from various DR Congo leagues and regions have been charged with molesting children.
As a result, the Independent Ethics Commission’s Investigation Chamber opened a preliminary investigation into a number of coaches in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including Mr. Jonathan Bukabakwa, a former youth coach for teams in the Lipopo and Malebo regions who are members of the Entente urbaine de soccer de Kinshasa (EUFKIN-Lipopo and EUFKIN-Malebo).
On February 16, 2023, the Investigation Division concluded that there was a prima facie case under Article 62, paragraph 1 of the FIFA Code of Ethics based on the data and records gathered during the preliminary stage of the investigation. It consequently made the decision to launch a formal investigation into Mr. Bukabakwa for potential violations of Article 24 of the aforementioned Code of Ethics.
Additionally, in line with Article 86, Paragraph 1 of the Code of Ethics, the Investigative Division proposed that Mr. Bukabakwa be subject to interim sanctions from the Judicial Division of the Independent Ethics Committee.
Based on Article 86 of the Code of Ethics, the President of the Judicial Chamber resolved to temporarily ban Mr. Bukabakwa from all football-related activities (at the national and international level) on March 20, 2023, at the request of the Investigative Chamber. The ban would last for five months.
Mr. Bukabakwa received notice of the ruling today, March 22, 2023, the day the suspension took effect.
