African football has been hit by big shock as a president of a football association has been sentenced to life in prison.
Latest reports suggest that Congolese Football Federation (Fecofoot) president Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas has been handed a life sentence.
The ruling marks one of the most severe legal crackdowns on football administration on the continent.
This follows a high-profile investigation into the financial management of the federation.
The court found Mayolas guilty of a series of severe financial crimes that have reportedly crippled the development of football in the Republic of Congo:
Money Laundering: Funneling federation funds through complex channels to disguise their origin.
Embezzlement: Misappropriating funds intended for national teams and infrastructure projects.
Forgery and Fake Documents: Creating fraudulent records to cover up the missing capital.
This ruling sends a massive warning to football administrators across the continent.
While corruption allegations in football are not new, a life sentence for a sitting FA President is an unprecedented escalation in the fight for transparency.