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Ricketts to confront FIFA over DR Congo scandal
October 08, 2026
PRESIDENT OF the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Michael Ricketts, is set to clash heads with football’s world governing body, FIFA, after bombshell reports surfaced that the Democratic Republic of Congo fielded an ineligible player in the Intercontinental Playoff that crushed Jamaica’s World Cup ambitions in March.
That result didn’t just end the Reggae Boyz’ campaign; it cost the country a potential windfall of more than J$1 billion, money that would have flowed from a second World Cup appearance.
At the centre of the storm is Congolese goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who once represented France at youth level.
According to The New York Times, FIFA knew that Mpasi never completed the formal process required to switch his sporting nationality to DR Congo, a critical procedural failure that should have barred him from the pitch entirely.
The revelations land less than two weeks after FIFA president Gianni Infantino visited Jamaica for a high-profile visit.
Speaking with STAR Sports, Ricketts confirmed he is fully aware of the claims and is not letting it slide.
“We have taken a decision that we will probably have some discussions with FIFA, trying to ensure that this article has some substance, and then we’ll take it from there,” Ricketts said.
“…We are very aware, and again, it just underlines how unfortunate things went for us during this World Cup campaign,” Ricketts told STAR Sports.
“We will be making FIFA aware that we are in fact aware, and then we’ll take it from there,” the JFF boss added.
Jamaica isn’t alone in demanding answers. Nigeria’s football federation has already fired its own complaint at FIFA, questioning whether ineligible players featured in DR Congo’s November playoff win over the Super Eagles, a match the Nigerians lost on penalties. FIFA shot that complaint down, citing insufficient evidence and a missed filing deadline.
Mpasi played the full 90 minutes against the Reggae Boyz in March, as DR Congo snatched a 1-0 win to book their World Cup ticket, a ticket that, by all indications, should never have been punched.
