Sexual Abuse: FIFA Bans Gabon Youth Coach For Life

Sexual Abuse: FIFA Bans Gabon Youth Coach For Life

By Admin

World football governing body - FIFA has banned former Gabon youth team coach Patrick Assoumou Eyi, known as "Capello," for life after its adjudicatory chamber found him guilty of multiple acts of sexual abuse against players, BSNSports.com.ng has sourced. 

Eyi, who left his position as head coach of Gabon's under-17 team in 2017, admitted to charges of raping, grooming, and exploiting young players following allegations first reported by the Guardian in 2021. One former player coached by Eyi claimed he would lure victims to his home, which he referred to as the "Garden of Eden."

FIFA provisionally suspended Eyi when the allegations emerged in 2021, and its independent ethics committee subsequently launched an investigation. On Tuesday, it was confirmed that he has received a lifetime ban from all football-related activities and has been fined 1 million Swiss francs (£878,000).

"The investigation into Mr. Eyi involves complaints from at least four male football players who accused him of sexual abuse between 2006 and 2021. Most of these incidents occurred while the players were minors," FIFA stated.