DR Congo striker Silas Mvumpa banned for playing under false identity

DR Congolese striker Silas Katompa Mvumpa has been suspended for three months and fined €30,000 by the German Football Association for playing under a false identity.

The lanky forward’s German club, VfB Stuttgart recently revealed in a club statement that Silas’ last name was Katompa Mvumpa, not Wamangituka, which was the name he was often referred by.

Silas had trials with Belgian side Anderlecht in 2017 and he says he was reportedly pressured to move to Paris, France by his former representative, who lived with him in Paris and, according to Silas, changed his name and date of birth.

Stuttgart believe the agent altered Mvumpa’s identity to increase the player’s dependence on the agent and Silas revealed was one year older, with his actual birth year being 1998.

The Bundesliga club has now released the following statement announcing that Silas has been handed a three-month ban.

“The German Football Association banned Silas Katompa Mvumpa for unsportsmanlike conduct for three months – up to and including September 11, 2021 – and fined the player with a fine of 30,000 euros. The ban applies to all gaming operations,” a statement read.

“The VfB striker recently revealed to VfB that he was the victim of the machinations of his former players’ agent and that Wamangituka is not his real name. Both Silas and VfB have accepted the sentence, so the judgment is final.”

“It was clear to him and us that Silas would be sanctioned by the DFB and according to the statutes it has to be like that,” Stuttgart sports director Sven Mislintat said.

“The judgment also takes into account the special circumstances of his case. We are happy that the sports court aspect at DFB level is now closed for Silas.”

Silas, who is yet to make his debut for DR Congo, was named Bundesliga Rookie of the Month for November 2020, December 2020, February 2021.