In Madagascar, life goes on. As in previous months, Raoul Rabekoto has just established the schedule for friendly matches for the national team. Everyone is acting as if the president of the Big Island football federation had not disappeared one fine February morning.
Targeted by an investigation for abuse of office, forgery in public writing and use of forgery, the football boss is suspected of having embezzled 25 million euros between 2009 and 2018, when he held the post of director general of the National Fund social security (Cnaps). The man did not wait for September 9 and the fact that Malagasy justice issues an international arrest warrant and asks France and Switzerland a week later to launch extradition proceedings.
Struck with a ban on leaving Malagasy territory on February 3, Raoul Rabekoto had already managed to reach Europe, via the Comoros and the island of Reunion. An incredible escape behind dark glasses and under a cap. Outfit which allowed the fugitive to embark aboard a speedboat in Ambanja, sowing the police in charge of his spinning. From the Comoros, he then joined Europe by passing through Reunion Island where a former baron of the regime helped him.
The man has since been reported in France and Switzerland, but did not appear for his summons to the Anti-Corruption Bureau on February 20.
No FIFA comment
As strong as the charges against him, the legal setbacks of Raoul Rabekoto do not however prevent him from continuing to exercise – from a distance – his mandate as president of the Malagasy Football Federation (FMF).
If the vice-president of the body, Alfred Randriamanampisoa, recalls that“He is always presumed innocent, since there has been no trial or conviction” and adds that “If he is convicted, FIFA will make a decision”, however, this in-between is not to everyone’s taste in Antananarivo. Some consider the situation too damaging for the image of local football. Moreover, in the opinion of a local journalist, “A majority of them would prefer him to quit his post already.”
Joined by The World Africa, FIFA believes that it has ” for the moment no comment to make ». Recently, Raoul Rabekoto took part in a videoconference organized by this international body.
Same speech on the side of the African Football Confederation (CAF), where it is known that the body “Does not have to comment on an ongoing legal proceeding which does not concern football, and whose conduct must be respected”. And still remember that “The statutes of the FMF are clear: in the event of vacancy of the presidency, it is the vice-president who succeeds him, while awaiting a new election”.
It’s hard to say how long this strange situation will last. In the meantime, Raoul Rabekoto contacted several times by phone, text message and voice messages did not respond to our requests.
