Fifa extends ban for Haiti's Jean-Bart and widens sexual abuse investigation

Fifa has extended Haitian football federation president Yves Jean-Bart’s suspension while it investigates allegations of sexual abuse and also provisionally banned two other FHF officials including technical director Wilner Etienne.

Jean-Bart, known as Dadou, was initially suspended from all football-related activity for 90 days in May after an investigation was opened following allegations first made in the Guardian that he coerced several players at the Centre Technique National in Croix-des-Bouquets into having sex. The allegations have been strongly denied by Jean-Bart.

The 72-year-old’s suspension was due to expire on Sunday but Fifa confirmed in a statement on Thursday that it has now been extended for another 90 days “following a request by the chairwoman of the investigatory chamber”.

“This sanction has been imposed in connection with ongoing investigations into Mr Jean-Bart, as well as other officials within the FHF, who were identified as having allegedly been involved (as principals, accomplices or instigators) in acts of systematic sexual abuse against female football players,” said the statement.

“In this respect, the investigatory chamber has expanded the scope of the aforementioned investigations by opening formal proceedings against Nela Joseph (girls’ supervisor at the Centre Technique National in Croix-des-Bouquets) and Wilner Etienne (Technical Director of the FHF). The chairwoman of the investigatory chamber has also provisionally banned the two officials from taking part in any football activity (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level for a period of 90 days, in accordance with articles 84 and 85 of the FCE.”

Joseph was alleged to have helped facilitate abuse by Jean-Bart at the centre by former technical director Antoine Doret in an article in the Guardian earlier this month but she has not responded to repeated requests for comment. Etienne, who serves as technical director and is based at the centre in Croix-es-Bouquets, has also been banned.

Fifa’s statement added: “Furthermore, preliminary investigation proceedings are currently being carried out that include the analysis of potential offences committed by other FHF/Haitian officials. The decisions taken by the chairpersons of the adjudicatory and investigatory chambers of the Ethics Committee have been duly notified to Mr Jean-Bart, Ms Joseph and Mr Etienne.”