Juba Lawyer Seeks FIFA Action on Football Body

(Juba) – A prominent lawyer in South Sudan has formally asked FIFA, the global governing body of football, to investigate what he calls serious governance violations within the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA). Advocate Musa Hassan Urbano submitted a complaint accusing SSFA leadership, including its president Lieutenant General Augustino Maduot Parek, of mismanagement, constitutional violations, and abuse of office.

In a detailed press statement shared with media outlets, Urbano claims the SSFA leadership is operating outside its constitutional mandate by delaying key governance processes and manipulating rules to suppress fair competition. He specifically accuses the association of unlawfully postponing the General Assembly Meeting—from its original date in February to June 20, 2025—without providing any legal justification.

The lawyer further alleges that SSFA officials altered the association’s constitution in a way that restricts electoral competition. These actions, he argues, violate Articles 31(3) and 31(4) of the SSFA’s constitution, which require timely submission of financial reports and agenda items ahead of the General Assembly. The failure to follow these rules, he said, reflects “a lack of transparency” within the football association’s leadership.

Urbano also points to what he calls political misuse of football events. He cited the recent launch of the women’s football league in Jonglei on June 6 as an example, alleging that the SSFA president used the occasion to promote his personal image and campaign for re-election rather than focusing on the sport itself.

In his appeal to FIFA, Urbano has requested that the international football body open an investigation into the SSFA’s alleged governance failures. He is also asking FIFA to revoke the constitutional amendments he claims violate FIFA’s own standards, and to delay the upcoming General Assembly meeting until a decision on the complaint is made.

Neither FIFA nor the SSFA has responded publicly to the allegations. However, sports observers note that this is not the first time the SSFA has come under criticism. The association has faced several governance-related disputes in the past, including accusations of financial mismanagement and lack of openness.