Fifa breaks silence on Asiagate bans

Sport
WORLD football governing body, Fifa, says it would take appropriate action on players and officials banned for match-fixing once it receives enough information from Zifa.

WORLD football governing body, Fifa, says it would take appropriate action on players and officials banned for match-fixing once it receives enough information from Zifa.

REPORT BY BRIAN NKIWANE

Two weeks ago, Zifa banned for life 15 footballers, administrators and officials for masterminding the throwing away of matches by the Warriors in Asia. The list includes two journalists.

“At the moment of writing, we haven’t received all the information yet. Once we receive the decisions we will take the appropriate measures as soon as possible,” Fifa said in written responses to Standardsport on Friday.

It said in accordance to Article 136 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code, and inter alia in relation to match-fixing, “the associations shall request Fifa to extend the sanctions taken at national level to have worldwide effect”.

In the matter involving two journalists that make up the list of the 15 that have been banned for life, the football body said scribes were not subject to the Fifa Disciplinary Code. “Media personnel at first sight cannot be party to Fifa disciplinary proceedings and are not subject to the Fifa Disciplinary Code. Fifa does not have any information on possible media personnel that could have been banned by the Zimbabwe Football Association. Should those persons be outside football, state law is applicable, such as the criminal code,” the statement said.

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