FIFA Bans Guinea-Bissau FA President

On Friday, FIFA banned Guinea-Bissau soccer federation president from football 10-years over an incident of mob justice.

Manuel Nascimento, who was set to defend his seat on Saturday elections, was also hit with a 100,000 Swiss francs ($108,000) fine by judges at FIFA’s independent ethics committee.

FIFA’s investigation targeting Nascimento was related to his involvement and participation in an incident of mob justice against a man in Guinea-Bissau, the world football’s governing body said in a statement.

In its decision, the adjudicatory chamber of the Independent Ethics Committee found that Nascimento had breached art. 23 (Protection of physical and mental integrity) of the FIFA Code of Ethics.

“The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has found Mr Manuel Nascimento, President of the Bissau-Guinean Football Association (FFGB), responsible for having breached his duty to protect the physical and mental integrity of others, in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics,” FIFA said in a statement.

“Based on the information, including video material, gathered by the investigatory chamber, Mr Nascimento had breached his duty, as per the FIFA Code of Ethics, to protect the physical and mental integrity of the man who was the victim of the mobbing.”

The verdict was announced less than 24 hours before scheduled elections at the Guinea-Bissau soccer body.

Nascimento was elected in 2012 and was due to stand for a third four-year term where he was expected to face five candidates namely Benelivio Cabral Nancassa Insali, Fernando Domingos Tarves, Mutaro Barri and Paulo Mendonca.