Congolese coach Jonathan Bukabakwa banned until 2048 after defying FIFA suspension over child sex abuse

Congolese coach Jonathan Bukabakwa banned until 2048 after defying FIFA suspension over child sex abuse - FIFA has extended Congolese coach Jonathan Bukabakwa’s ban to 2048 after he continued coaching young players despite his suspension for sexually abusing a minor. (Photo: IMAGO via DW)

FIFA extends Jonathan Bukabakwa’s ban to 2048 and fines the Congolese football federation and Racing Club Baki $50,000 each for failing to enforce the original suspension.

FIFA has extended the ban on Congolese football coach Jonathan Bukabakwa by five years to 2048 after he continued coaching young players despite being suspended for sexually abusing a minor player.

The latest ruling also sanctions the Congolese Association Football Federation (Fecofa) and Racing Club Baki for failing to enforce the original suspension, with each fined $50,000 (Sh6.5 million).

Bukabakwa has been ordered to pay an additional $15,000 (Sh1.9 million). FIFA has also directed Fecofa to introduce a programme to educate its officials and affiliated clubs on complying with disciplinary decisions and monitor whether the rules are being followed.

The coach was convicted by Congolese authorities in a sexual abuse case and released from prison in January 2023.

“The Congo DR Football Association, the club Racing Club Baki and the coach Jonathan Bukabakwa were found responsible for failing to comply with the decision rendered by the FIFA ethics committee in 2023,” FIFA said.

The latest sanctions follow FIFA’s October 2023 decision to ban Bukabakwa from all football-related activities for 20 years and fine him 100,000 Swiss francs (Sh15.7 million).

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FIFA’s Ethics Committee found that he had violated Article 24 of the organisation’s Code of Ethics, which protects football players from harm to their physical and mental well-being.

Questions about whether the original ban was being enforced emerged in August, when an investigation by The Guardian reported that Bukabakwa was still coaching young players at Esperanto, a club in Kinshasa’s Limete district that is now known as Racing Club Baki.

The publication reported that it had obtained video footage showing Bukabakwa working with young players on a school field.

When questioned about his continued involvement in football, Bukabakwa claimed he had not been notified of FIFA’s ban. He also denied the allegations against him.

Fecofa had provisionally suspended Bukabakwa in November 2022, alongside several other coaches facing sexual abuse allegations. However, some of the other investigations did not lead to further action because authorities found insufficient evidence.