(CMC) – Haiti soccer federation president Yves Jean-Bart was banned from the sport for life yesterday, following accusations of systemic sexual abuse of female players.

The FIFA ethics committee found Jean-Bart guilty of “having abused his position and sexually harassed and abused various female players, including minors”.

He was also fined one million Swiss francs (US$1.1 million).

Jean-Bart has denied the allegations, which involve national team players. The accusations were first revealed by British newspaper, The Guardian in April.

The abuse is said to have happened at the country’s national training centre at Croix-des-Bouquets, which FIFA helped fund. It was known as ‘The Ranch’.

As the head of Haitian soccer since 2000, Jean-Bart “wielded huge power…and has high-level connections into the government, political and legal systems,” Human Rights Watch said.

Haitian state authorities have been urged by the advocacy group to investigate the allegations and protect the players, who also said they were intimidated and threatened.