Gabon football coach named by BBC in sexual abuse report banned by Fifa

FIFPRO, FIFA Players’ Federation said:

On Tuesday, FIFA eliminated that Patrick Asiumo Eye, who was coach of the national youth teams in Gabon for decades, was subjected to sexual abuse of many young children throughout his career.

Eyi was named at 2023 BBC Africa Investigating Laayou.

In the investigation, a former international Gabon said that Eyi occupied the position of “god” because he had the ability to determine who would play with the Jabon youth teams.

“Only one of the Gabonese Football who took advantage of their power without punishment,” Vivbero said in a statement on Wednesday.

Although Al -Ittihad welcomed the FIFA decision to ban the former coach of all football activities, he said that football in Central African country will not be safe even “all the perpetrators and those who were enabled them to be brought to justice.”

Eye admitted on charges of rape, grooming and the exploitation of young players after allegations were reported by the United Kingdom for the first time Guardian Newspaper in 2021.

The FIFA Independent Ethics Committee launched its investigation at EYI later that year.

In addition to the prohibition of life, Eyi was fined one million Swiss francs (880,000 pounds; $ 1.1 million). He is currently being held in prison.

“The investigation of Mr. Eyi relates to complaints of at least four male soccer players who accused him of sexual assault between 2006 and 2021. Most of these incidents occurred while the players were minors,” FIFA statement said.

One of the alleged Eyi victims, who wanted not to reveal their identity, told BBC on Wednesday that he was happy with the ban.

And they said: “But on the other hand, I am not satisfied because I do not want us to stop there. It is a complete network, a system that needs to be dismantled, with many of the predators for free.”

In 2023, BBC spoke to Africa to more than 30 witnesses who told the sexual assault network suffered all Gabonese football levels for three decades.

One of the victims said that he was abused when he was a teenager in a under -17 football camp. Another, who played with the national team of Gabon for several years, said that he was assaulted from 14 years of age.

Along with the perpetrators of abuse, the ruling bodies such as FIFA and the National Football Association, Fegafoot, faced accusations that they failed to protect young victims.

Both bodies denied the allegations attached to them.