Fifa has permitted the Democratic Republic of the Congo to participate in this summer’s World Cup, despite uncovering that they had fielded an ineligible player, Lionel Mpasi, during the qualifying rounds.

Mpasi, a goalkeeper born in France, had not completed his nationality switch from France before playing for the DRC. His notable performances included a match against England in the last 32. Surprisingly, no sanctions were imposed on the Congolese football federation, Fecofa.

This incident raises further scrutiny over Fifa President Gianni Infantino, amid ongoing governance scandals. While Fifa maintains that Infantino had no influence on the investigation or decision regarding Mpasi, his association with Véron Mosengo-Omba, who was elected president of Fecofa this May, keeps him in the spotlight.

The Nigerian Football Federation had lodged a complaint about the DRC’s eligibility during a World Cup playoff, which the DRC won on penalties in November. Reports indicate that Fifa was aware of Mpasi’s ineligibility before the DRC's playoff against Jamaica in March. Ultimately, Fifa dismissed Nigeria's complaint, citing a late submission.

In response, Nigeria is considering seeking financial compensation for the economic losses incurred due to this situation. A representative from the national sports commission stated, "Nothing has been decided yet, but we will seriously consider seeking compensation from Fifa."

Concacaf, which includes Jamaica, emphasized the importance of player eligibility and called for thorough reviews of any concerns regarding player status. Meanwhile, the Norwegian Football Federation has also lodged complaints regarding Fifa's governance, highlighting a growing crisis in football administration.

Lise Klaveness, president of the NFF, remarked, "Each of these cases must be assessed based on the facts... has Fifa’s position been used inappropriately?" This situation continues to unfold, leaving many questions about Fifa's governance and decision-making processes.