Life Ban Imposed on Yves Jean Bart, Former President of the Haitian Football Federation, Lifted

In an order dated February 14, 2023, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) allowed the appeal filed by the former President of the Haitian Football Federation (FHF), Yves Jean Bart and lifted the life ban imposed upon him by the Adjudicatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee concerning sexual harassment charges.

In 2020, an investigation was conducted to investigate the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against the former President. After the investigation concluded, the Adjudicatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee heard the statements made by Yves Jean Bart and the Chairman of the FIFA Ethics Committee before concluding. The final report of the Ethics Committee was also perused and taken into consideration by the chamber.

For committing acts of sexual harassment against female soccer players, including minors, and for abusing his dominant position in connection with the FHF, the Adjudicatory Chamber held him to be in violation of Articles 23 and 25 of the FIFA Code of Ethics. Accordingly, a fine of CHF 1 million and a life ban were imposed upon the former President in November 2020.

Thereafter, this decision was challenged vide an appeal filed before CAS. Observing that the evidence furnished to establish a violation of the Code was “inconsistent, unclear and contradictory”, the court quashed the decision of the Adjudicatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee and set aside the sanctions imposed thereunder.