As the Gabonese government investigates claims of widespread sexual abuse by youth coaches in the country’s football system with criminal trials proceeding against Gabonese Football Federation president Pierre-Alain Mounguengui, FIFA decided to act by banning several Gabonese officials. Alleged main perpetrator Patrick Assoumou Eyi, a former technical director and former under-17 national team coach known as “Capello”, has been banned while investigations are ongoing along with league official Serge Mombo and coaches Triphel Mabicka and Orphee Mickala.
The allegations of abuse came to light when British publication The Guardian conducted a wide-ranging investigation and interviews with former players in the Gabonese youth national team system who made the claims that abuse was widespread. International players union FIFPRO represented the players when making a formal complaint to FIFA ethics investigators.
