Fifa faces renewed scrutiny over DR Congo’s World Cup place after eligibility report

Fifa is facing renewed questions over the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s participation in this summer’s World Cup after reports that its investigators identified an eligibility problem involving goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi but no sporting sanction followed. According to The Guardian, Fifa’s investigative teams were aware before the tournament that Mpasi, who was born in France and represented the country at youth level, had not completed the process required to switch national allegiance. Despite that, the goalkeeper played for the DRC at the finals, including in its last-32 match against England.

The reports do not say that Fifa publicly confirmed the finding or explain in full why no punishment was imposed on the Congolese federation, Fecofa. The Guardian reported that Fifa chose not to remove the DRC from the play-offs or impose another sporting penalty, even though investigators were allegedly aware of the issue before the country’s final intercontinental play-off against Jamaica in March. The dispute began with Nigeria’s complaint over the DRC’s use of apparently ineligible players during their World Cup play-off tie in November.

The DRC won that match on penalties. Fifa rejected Nigeria’s complaint on the grounds that it had not been submitted within the required timeframe, rather than, according to the report, resolving the eligibility issue through a sporting ruling. Nigeria has appealed.

A member of the country’s national sports commission told ESPN that officials could also consider seeking compensation from Fifa for the economic losses caused by the defeat, although the official stressed that no decision had yet been made. The supplied reports do not establish whether the appeal has been decided. The case has also increased attention on Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

The Guardian said Fifa’s investigative bodies are independent and that Infantino has no input into their proceedings. Fifa is understood to have denied that he played any role in the decision concerning Mpasi. Questions about governance have nevertheless been amplified by the election of Véron Mosengo-Omba as Fecofa president.

The Guardian described Mosengo-Omba as a former university associate of Infantino and noted that he was elected unopposed in May. The report presents that relationship as a reason Infantino’s name is likely to remain part of the debate, not as evidence that he intervened. Concacaf, whose members include Jamaica, said it takes eligibility matters seriously and expects regulations to be applied consistently and fairly.

It called for concerns to be reviewed through Fifa’s governance and disciplinary bodies. Fifa, Concacaf, the African confederation Caf, the Nigerian federation and Fecofa were approached for comment, according to The Guardian. The episode comes amid wider scrutiny of Fifa’s governance.

The Norwegian federation has submitted a three-part complaint concerning, among other matters, the reversal of a red card awarded to the United States’ Folarin Balogun after a telephone intervention by Donald Trump, the Fifa peace prize and an abandoned plan to sell a share in the World Cup to investors. Norwegian federation president Lise Klaveness said the cases raised questions about whether Fifa’s authority had been used appropriately and whether its safeguards had worked.