FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee has barred former Guyana Football Federation general secretary Ian Alves from all football-related activities for five years and fined him 20,000 Swiss francs. The committee found that Alves sexually harassed female staff members, a breach of the FIFA Code of Ethics covering protection of physical and mental integrity, abuse of position and general duties. Alves resigned from his GFF post in 2024. FIFA said the decision took effect when Alves was notified and that the full grounds will be released within 60 days.

FIFA's independent Ethics Committee imposed the sanction after reviewing written statements from the victims, documents supplied by the Guyana Football Federation and submissions from Alves, along with other evidence gathered during its inquiry.

The committee concluded that Alves had breached multiple provisions of the Code of Ethics. He was fined 20,000 Swiss francs, a sum FIFA listed alongside the five-year ban. The monetary penalty and exclusion cover all football-related roles and activities.

Disciplinary findings

The ruling says the breaches related to the protection of physical and mental integrity, an abuse of position and failures in general duties under the ethics code. The committee's determination followed an internal process of evidence review rather than a public hearing, FIFA added.

Alves stepped down from his role at the Guyana Football Federation in 2024. The notification of the sanction was delivered on Monday, which is when the ban formally began, FIFA said. The governing body also committed to issuing the detailed grounds for its decision within 60 days, as the Code of Ethics requires.

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Process and consequences

The investigation relied on testimony from people who identified themselves as victims, documents provided by the GFF and written material from Alves. FIFA's Ethics Committee considered all of that material when finding breaches of the code. The committee then imposed both the ban and the fine.

Under FIFA rules, a person who's banned from football-related activity can't take part in administration, coaching, refereeing or any official duties in clubs, leagues or national associations during the exclusion period. The ban therefore prevents Alves from holding any official function tied to the sport while it's in force.

The case was handled by FIFA's independent ethics mechanism, which is tasked with investigating and sanctioning conduct that violates the code. The mechanism examines alleged misconduct across a range of behaviours, from financial irregularities to abuses of position and protection of individuals within the game.

Guyana's football body supplied documents that formed part of the committee's review. FIFA didn't publish the detailed evidence in its statement. It did say only that victims' written statements and other material were considered alongside Alves's responses.

Reaction and context

FIFA emphasised that its rules aim to protect the physical and mental integrity of people involved in the game. It also made clear that breaches of that protection and abuses of office are subject to sanctions under the code. The statement reiterated that the governing body seeks to apply those standards worldwide.

Alves's resignation in 2024 removed him from office before the Ethics Committee's final decision. The ban, however, operates independently of his employment status and bars him from future roles in football administration for the duration of the sanction.

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FIFA said the full grounds for the ruling will be communicated within 60 days, and the ban took effect when Alves was notified on Monday.

This article was created with AI assistance.