FIFA appeals CAS’ decision to lift the sentence of former Haitian Football Federation president

MOSCOW, March 20 – RIA Novosti. The International Football Federation (FIFA) has appealed to the Swiss Federal Court against the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to abolish the life sentence given to the former president of the Haitian Football Federation, Yves Jean-Bar. sexual harassment lawsuit according to website Fifa.

The international federation believes that the CAS decision contains a number of serious procedural shortcomings, including the court’s failure to evaluate the essential evidence provided by FIFA. The organization demanded the annulment of the decision and its return to the CAS.

In May 2020, the FIFA Ethics Committee Chamber of Investigation launched an investigation into Jean-Bar after an article in the Guardian newspaper alleged that the head of the Haitian Football Federation allegedly forced several female football players to have sex with him.

During the investigation, Human Rights Watch, a non-governmental organization dealing with human rights abuses, confirmed the allegations. The International Federation of Professional Footballers’ Associations (FIFPro) has released a document listing more than 30 alleged victims of Jean Bar. In November 2020, FIFA placed a lifetime ban on any football activity on the official and fined him 1 million Swiss francs. Jean-Bar pleaded not guilty and appealed to the CAS.

The CAS arbitral tribunal held hearings in March 2022. In conclusion, the referees unanimously noted the inconsistencies and inaccuracies in the victim and witness statements submitted by FIFA. In addition, the judges did not find the information contained in Human Rights Watch and FIFPro documents sufficient. As a matter of fact, the arbitral tribunal evaluated that the evidence against Jean-Bar was inconsistent, unclear and contradictory, and overturned FIFA’s lifetime ban and fine.

Jean-Bar was re-elected five times as President of the Haitian Football Association. He left his post in 2020 after FIFA’s decision to ban him from football for life.