Coach in DR Congo banned by Fifa for 20 years for sexual abuse still training young players
Jonathan Bukabakwa released from prison last year
Case highlights flaws in Fifa’s safeguarding processes
A coach in the Democratic Republic of the Congo who was banned from football for 20 years by Fifa in March 2023 for sexual abuse of a minor is continuing to take charge of young players, the Guardian can reveal.
Jonathan Bukabakwa, who is known as Messi and previously coached youth teams in the Limpopo and Malabo regions, was also fined 100,000 Swiss francs after a Fifa investigation found him of guilty of sexual abuse. He had also been convicted of similar offences by authorities in the DRC but was released from prison last year.
