By Ollus Ndomu
FIFPRO, the global association for professional footballers, has demanded a review of governance within Gabonese football following FIFA’s lifetime ban of former under-17 coach Patrick Assoumou Eyi for sexually abusing players.
Eyi, who was also fined 1 million Swiss francs ($1.13 million), was found guilty by FIFA’s ethics committee of abusing his position to commit repeated acts of sexual abuse from 2006 to 2021. The ban comes after over three years of pressure from civil society, FIFPRO, and the media, which shed light on the widespread abuse.
Remy Ebanega, the president of the Gabonese player union, stated that the abuse was an open secret, yet went largely ignored by those in power within the country’s football administration.
FIFPRO, in its response, emphasized that while the ban was a critical step in holding individuals accountable, much more work remains to address the systemic failures in the governance of Gabonese football and prevent future abuse.
This case has reignited calls for greater oversight and reform in the sport, with FIFPRO pushing for changes that ensure player safety and accountability at all levels.
