Zimpapers Logo

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
FIFA’S ethics committee has handed a lifetime ban to Haitian Football Federation (FHF)’s former head of referees Rosnick Grant after finding him guilty of sexual harassment and abuse of young players and female referees.

Grant was found to have abused his position and threatened young referees to prevent them from reporting “such sexual abuse”, according to a statement from the Fifa ethics committee’s independent adjudicatory chamber.

“In the case of Grant, his conduct occurred between 2011 and 2021, and was related to sexual harassment and abuse, as well as threats and coercion (to prevent the reporting of such sexual abuse) towards female referees, and taking advantage of his position of authority in Haitian football refereeing in exchange for sexual favours.

“In its decision, the adjudicatory chamber found that Grant had breached art. 23 (Protection of physical and mental integrity) and art. 25 (Abuse of position) of the Fifa Code of Ethics and sanctioned him with a lifetime ban from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level. In addition, a fine in the amount of CHF 100 000 (£78 970) has been imposed on Grant,” read the adjudicatory chamber’s statement.

Grant is a former international referee, who had been president of the FHF referees’ commission since 2009 and had ultimate responsibility for the appointment of referees in Haiti’s domestic leagues.

Several alleged victims told The Guardian newspaper of Britain Grant intimidated young officials by threatening to end their careers if they did not have sex with him, and another said he had tried to take her virginity when she was 17.

According to The Guardian, Nella Joseph, supervisor of Haiti’s Under-20 women’s team, who was based at the Centre Technique National in Croix-des-Bouquets, was handed a 10-year ban in May after being found guilty of forcing players into having sex with former FA president Yvess Jean-Bart, and Fifa is continuing its investigation into allegations that the executive secretary Fenelus Guerrier blackmailed girls into having sex with him. Guerrier told the Guardian in September that he was co-operating with what he described as a confidential inquiry.

Last month, Grant was summoned by a local magistrate in Croix-des-Bouquets after he was accused of attempting to arrange the killing of a journalist. He denied the claims.