FIFA faces eligibility scrutiny over DR Congo World Cup place
FIFA has defended its handling of a complaint over DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi’s eligibility after reports that its lawyers identified potential sanctions before the country’s World Cup qualification play-off.
FIFA is facing renewed scrutiny over its disciplinary processes following reports that legal officials identified an eligibility problem involving DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi before the country qualified for the 2026 World Cup.The allegations concern a failure to complete Mpasi’s change of association from France, with internal documents reportedly outlining possible sanctions including his suspension and DR Congo’s replacement by Nigeria in the intercontinental play-off against Jamaica.A FIFA spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the Fifa disciplinary committee dealt with a protest filed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in this respect. Following a procedure, the protest was declared inadmissible by this Fifa body.“This disciplinary decision was communicated to the NFF in early March 2026 and, as no proper appeal was lodged, the decision became final and binding.“Fifa’s judicial bodies are autonomous and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Fifa strongly rejects any suggestion that the Fifa president would interfere with these processes.”The response distinguishes the disciplinary committee’s rejection of Nigeria’s protest from the reported assessment by FIFA lawyers, leaving questions over how the eligibility concerns were considered and why they did not result in sanctions.Mpasi made his DR Congo debut in 2022 and subsequently represented them at the World Cup, including their knockout match against England, after the country secured qualification by defeating Jamaica.The documents reportedly included taking no action because Nigeria’s complaint had been submitted late, alongside alternatives that would have changed the participants in the qualification play-off.CONCACAF, which represents Jamaica, called for consistent application of the eligibility rules, saying: “CONCACAF takes player eligibility matters very seriously and expects the applicable regulations and procedures to be applied consistently and fairly in all competitions.“Any concerns regarding player eligibility, particularly those that may affect the integrity of a competition or the interests of one of our member associations, should be thoroughly reviewed and addressed through FIFA’s appropriate governance and disciplinary bodies, in accordance with established regulations and due process.”The controversy adds to questions surrounding FIFA’s decision to suspend United States striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban during the World Cup, allowing him to participate against Belgium.US President Donald Trump subsequently said he had called Gianni Infantino to request a review, although FIFA has denied intervention by its president and maintained that the disciplinary committee acted independently.DR Congo federation president Véron Mosengo-Omba is a longstanding friend of Infantino, but that relationship does not establish involvement by the FIFA president in the eligibility decision.