The International Football Federation (FIFA) said Tuesday, January 11, that it had opened an investigation into accusations of sexual assault of hundreds of children by several football coaches in Gabon. This will be entrusted to “FIFA independent ethics committee”, said the Federation, confirming information from the British daily The Guardian.
Patrick Assoumou Eyi, former Gabonese football coach of the national under-17 team, is accused of alleged sexual assault of hundreds of children. He was arrested by the Gabonese authorities on December 20 and indicted for “Rape of minors” .
Two other club coaches, Orphée Mickala and Triphel Mabicka, were also indicted for the same reasons. The three coaches risk thirty years of criminal imprisonment.
Taekwondo also concerned
Well known in Gabonese football circles under the sobriquet of “Capello”, Patrick Assoumou Eyi, whose name was made public by The Guardian, who revealed the case in December, was the coach of the National Under-17 squad until 2017 and has since been technical director of the Estuaire Football League, the capital province, Libreville.
Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba had raised a case “Very serious and unacceptable” and had given for instruction “To seize the Minister of Justice for the opening of a judicial investigation in the community of national football for sexual abuses having been committed against children, boys and girls”, but also “To extend the survey to all national sports federations” for “Eradicate potential sexual predators”.
Football is not the only sport affected in recent weeks. Martin Avera, known in Gabon under the pseudonym of “Master Chacka”, taekwondo trainer, was arrested on December 29 by the Gabonese police for charges. “Facts of pedophilia” presumed on “Many victims”.
