But An LFA Spokesman Disagrees With Corruption Allegations
By Thomas Kojo Roulhac, Contributing Writer
Liberian Football stakeholder Emmett Stages Glassco has called on the football world governing body, FIFA to conduct a “forensic audit” of the country’s Football body, citing alleged irregularities in the use of funds given to it by FIFA since 2018, but an LFA official has disagreed there is corruption at the FA.
According to Glassco, since the inception of Mustapha Raji administration, the football house has received over 13 million with buck of the money not accounted for despite clubs are struggling in the various leagues.
The senior Female Professionals President made the call days after Raji disagreed with an audit conducted on the LFA Headquarters cost.
When asked by a journalist during a media engagement on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 when he finally agrees with the US$1.89 million as the cost of the headquarters after he agreed and signed to the Audited Financial Statement, where he provided responsibility for the preparation of the Financial Statement, Raji said he stand with the previous cost of 1.5 million announced by him in April 2023 during the declaration ceremony.
Glassco believes the discrepancy from Raji and auditors, where Raji disagreed with what the auditor presented in the Audited Financial Statement is some of the reason reputable and International Audit firm should be appointed by FIFA to urgently check the account books of the Federation to ensure that funds are judiciously expended. The Auditor provided a Qualified Opinion to the Financial Statement noting many financial issues within the Liberia Football Association.
He also wants the audit report to be made public, so as to promote transparency, build credibility and enhance the country football market value.”
“This is a very serious issue that must be given urgent attention to avoid another international embarrassment like the disqualification of the U-17 boys national team,” he said.
In a management letter signed by the football house after a local comprehensive audit, the auditors raised the issue of money collected as gate intake not accounted for, for many over the years, those the LFA claimed they owed could not verify the debts, the recording of financial transactions were not done professionally, etc.
The letter revealed that there is a possibility of corruption by the Football Association after they alleged of paying workers on the pitch after each match day without recipe or record showing reflection on money spend.
Emmett explained that such practice by people claiming to be free of corruption is a clear path of stealing form clubs and their supporters.
However, when contacted, Anthony Kokoi of the LFA Media Department disagreed with Glassco about their issue of corruption in the football association.
According to him, if the football stakeholder wants to know more about money coming to the FA he should visit their financial department before speaking on issue he doesn’t know about.
“How can you say FIFA should conduct an audit on us when there is no audit report that has shown a single corruption at the LFA,” he asked.