FIFA Knew DR Congo Keeper Was Ineligible Before World Cup, Reports Say

FIFA is facing serious questions after reports claimed world football's governing body knew DR Congo goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu was ineligible before the World Cup — and did nothing about it. The Times and The Athletic reported on Tuesday that FIFA had been aware of the issue surrounding the shot-stopper's eligibility but failed to act before the tournament.

The revelation raises the prospect of one of the biggest eligibility scandals in recent World Cup history. If proven, DR Congo could face retrospective punishment, with potential consequences for results already recorded at the tournament.

FIFA has not yet responded publicly to the reports, but the pressure is mounting. Eligibility rows have dogged international football for years, yet a case involving the sport's governing body allegedly sitting on the information would be unprecedented in its severity.

For DR Congo, the timing could hardly be worse. For FIFA, the questions are only just beginning — above all, what did it know, and when did it know it?