FIFA has suspended the Haitian Football Federation’s (FHF) head of referees, Rosnick Grant, from all football-related activities for 90 days as it continues to investigate allegations of sexual abuse. Grant, a former international referee who is now president of the FHF’s referees’ commission (Cona) and a vice-president of the FHF, was contacted at the end of August by FIFA’s ethics committee and asked to provide a written statement as part of their investigation. A statement on Wednesday confirmed that he has now been suspended, with Grant having already been notified of the decision. The statement said: “In accordance with articles 84 and 85 of the FIFA code of ethics, the investigatory chamber of the independent ethics committee has provisionally banned Mr. Rosnick Grant, a member of the now-dissolved executive committee and the head of refereeing of the Haitian Football Association (FHF), from all football-related activities at both national and international level for a period of 90 days. This sanction has been imposed in connection with ongoing investigations concerning Mr. Grant.”
It is understood that several alleged victims have already provided evidence to FIFA about Grant, who spent 16 years as a referee before being appointed as Cona president in 2009 and becoming responsible for the appointment of referees in Haiti’s domestic leagues. They have claimed that he intimidated young officials by threatening to end their careers if they did not have sex with him. “He harassed us,” one alleged victim who did not want to be named told the Guardian in September. “If you want to have a career, to referee tournaments, the only person who can make that happen is Grant. He uses it as a leverage. To be selected, we have some tests, physical for example. Some girls passed the test but they’re not selected. We have some girls who didn’t go to the physical test but are still selected because they sleep with Grant. It’s very simple.” In September, Grant said he did not want to respond to questions from the Guardian detailing the allegations made against him. “Unfortunately, I cannot speak with you, because I am discussing with another institution on this subject,” he said. “Please understand that confidentiality is required. Sorry.”
Former FHF president Yves Jean-Bart was banned for life in November after FIFA’s ethics committee found him guilty of having abused his position and sexually harassed and abused female players, including minors. FIFA has also imposed temporary bans on the technical director Wilner Etienne and Nela Joseph, girls’ supervisor at the FHF’s Centre Technique National in Croix-des-Bouquets, pending an investigation into their alleged involvement in widespread sexual abuse. Haitian lawyer Jacques Letang has been appointed head of FIFA’s normalization committee, which has a mandate lasting until 30 November 2022 and will help to run the FHF and conduct new elections for a new executive committee. Michaëlle Jean - a former governor general of Canada - has also been appointed to chair an advisory panel that will provide support to the normalization committee.
Source: The Guardian