Published: January 28, 2026
MONROVIA — Jubilee Football Club and Shaita Angels FC President Benita Whitney Urey have filed a consolidated governance complaint with FIFA, accusing the Liberia Football Association (LFA) of violating its own statutes and interfering with judicial independence in the administration of Liberian football.
The complaint, submitted Tuesday through legal counsel and copied to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), alleges a pattern of administrative misconduct by the LFA, including obstruction of judicial decisions, denial of appeal rights and executive actions that undermine due process.
“The matter before FIFA is not about match results or competition outcomes,” the complainants said in a statement. “It is about governance, accountability and respect for statutory safeguards.”
Allegations of Judicial Interference
Jubilee FC and Urey said they have consistently acted within the framework of LFA statutes by filing appeals, paying required fees and submitting disputes to competent judicial bodies. They said those processes produced lawful rulings that were later blocked or ignored through administrative action.
According to the complaint, binding judicial decisions were not implemented, appeals were frustrated and actions were taken without legal authority — conduct the complainants described as executive overreach.
They warned that continued interference or retaliation could trigger additional legal action beyond football’s internal mechanisms.
“Any further refusal to comply with lawful processes may necessitate the pursuit of additional legal remedies, including the invocation of national laws and the jurisdiction of competent courts,” the statement said.
The complainants said no football institution or official is above its own constitution and that judicial independence must not be overridden by administrative authority. They said they are placing full confidence in FIFA and CAF to address the issues raised.
Disciplinary Case at the Center
The FIFA complaint follows recent disciplinary action by the LFA, which banned Urey from all football-related activities for five years after its Grievance and Disciplinary Committee found her culpable in a match-manipulation scheme during the 2024–25 First Division League season.
In a statement, the LFA said Urey violated Part II, Chapter 2, Article 20 (1 and 3) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which prohibits the manipulation of football matches and competitions.
The sanctions stem from alleged irregularities involving two league fixtures — Paynesville FC vs. Freeport FC and Shaita Angels FC vs. Paynesville FC — played during the season. The LFA alleged that Urey, in her capacity as president of Shaita Angels FC, played a central role in the scheme.
Under the sanction, Urey is barred from holding any administrative or sporting role in football and prohibited from entering stadiums for five years.
The complainants said Urey filed an appeal against the decision, but it was rejected by the LFA, prompting the escalation of the matter to FIFA.
As of publication, the LFA had not publicly responded to the governance complaint filed with FIFA.
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