Share

FIFA issues decade-long sanction

Zurich - FIFA on banned Nepal's football chief for 10 years and the president of the Laos federation for two years for bribery.

The decade-long sanction against Ganesh Thapa, president of the All-Nepal Football Association, was a new blow to the country's football image after several national players were accused of match-fixing.

Thapa stood down as a football chief one year ago amid an investigation into accusations that he embezzled millions of dollars during his 19-year tenure.

Thapa "committed various acts of misconduct over several years, including the solicitation and acceptance of cash payments from another football official, for both personal and family gain," said a FIFA statement without giving details.

FIFA's ethics committee said Thapa had specifically been bribed over elections for the FIFA executive committee in 2009 and 2011.

On top of the ban, he was fined 20,000 Swiss francs by the ethics committee's adjudicatory chamber.

Nepal's national team captain, Sagar Thapa, and four other players have been charged with treason over alleged match-fixing in World Cup qualifiers. Prosecutors have sought life jail terms for the five who have denied the charges.

Laos Football Federation president Viphet Sihachakr was banned for two years after he "solicited and accepted a payment from another football official" around 2011 elections for the FIFA executive.

Sihachakr was fined 40 000 Swiss francs.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
33% - 1818 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1778 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1084 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 461 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 187 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 254 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE