FIFA bans Haitian Football Chief for 90 days
“In accordance with articles 84 and 85 of the FIFA Code of Ethics, the investigatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has provisionally banned Mr. Yves Jean-Bart, President of the Haitian Football Federation (FHF), from all football-related activities at both national and international level, for a period of 90 days.”
The investigatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee of Federation of International Football Association [FIFA] has provisionally suspended the president of the Haitian Football Federation from all football related activities for 90 days.
Yves Jean-Bart, popularly known as “Dadou,” has been the president of the Fédération Haïtienne de Football (FHF) for the past two decades dating back to 2000.
He was accused of sexually abusing young female footballers at the country’s national training centre five years ago. An expose by the Guardian newspaper in April this year has led to the FIFA action although he has denied the allegations.
The investigatory chamber of the FIFA independent Ethics Committee began the investigations into the allegations in mid-April.
On Monday, FIFA pronounced him guilty based on its Code of Ethics and handed him the 90 days ban from all football-related activities.
A statement on FIFA’s website reads:
“In accordance with articles 84 and 85 of the FIFA Code of Ethics, the investigatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has provisionally banned Mr. Yves Jean-Bart, President of the Haitian Football Federation (FHF), from all football-related activities at both national and international level, for a period of 90 days.”
“This sanction has been imposed in connection with ongoing investigations concerning Mr. Jean-Bart.”
“Mr Jean-Bart was notified of the decision today. The provisional sanction comes into force immediately,” it concluded.
Mr Jean-Bart has denied the allegations that he coerced several players at the association’s training centre in Croix-des-Bouquets into having sex in incidents going back five years. Meanwhile, some of the victims, their friends and relatives have all testified against him.
Haitian police have launched a probe into the allegations, first revealed late last month, and a judge has already summoned several Federation employees to answer questions.
It is alleged that, he has forced two underage girls to have abortions and threatened them to remain silent or lose any benefits they receive from the facilities in Port- Au- Prince
The 73 year old was re-elected for the sixth time in February this year after going unopposed.
In the wake of the suspension of Jack Warner and Lisle Austin in 2011, he became the acting president of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU).
Mustapha Hadji (Dean of Sports)
