Kidnapping scandal rocks TP Mazembe: Malian striker Fily Traore reports club to FIFA
Malian striker Fily Traore has taken legal action against TP Mazembe, accusing the DR Congo giants of kidnapping and using armed thugs to seize his travel documents to prevent him from leaving the country.
According to AfricaSoccer.com, this comes after FIFA ruled in favour of Traore in a contract dispute, allowing him to join Libyan side Swehli.
Despite FIFA’s decision, Mazembe officials allegedly confiscated Traore’s passport to stop his departure.
In a letter to FIFA, Traore expressed his frustration:
“I hereby request your urgent intervention for the recovery of my passport confiscated by the TP Mazembe club. Although FIFA has ruled in my favor and I have been officially registered with Club Swehli since 12 September 2024, TP Mazembe has summoned me for the match scheduled for Tuesday 15 October 2024 at 15:30 in Kalemie against the local club FC Tanganyika.”
Traore stated that he has no desire to participate in Mazembe’s matches, as his current registration is with Swehli.
“FIFA has also conducted an investigation into this situation, and the passport matter has been transferred to the disciplinary committee. However, despite this intervention, my passport is still being withheld.”
He added that on October 12, 2024, a media manager from the club had promised to return his passport, but the promise was never fulfilled.
Furthermore, two unidentified armed individuals confiscated his emergency travel document at the Kinshasa airport.
The Libyan Embassy in DR Congo has filed an official complaint, requesting Mazembe return Traore’s passport.
The embassy stated:
“The embassy has the honour of requesting that it kindly intervene with the Mazembe club to kindly return the passport of the player Fily Traoré, of Malian nationality, born on 15/06/2001, in connection with the MAZEMBE club who has joined the Swehli club of Misrata, Libya, following a FIFA decision in favor of the aforementioned player.”
Traore, a former Mali U23 international, joined TP Mazembe from CO Bamako four years ago and spent some time on loan at CS Don Bosco.
He was last season’s top scorer in the DR Congo championship, which attracted interest from several clubs, including Algerian side CR Belouizdad.