FIFA imposes ban on Zambian players

Lusaka, May 4 (IANS) World football governing body FIFA has extended a two-year suspension for nine Zambian football players implicated in a match fixing scandal last year in Finland to apply worldwide until April 5, 2013.

The nine Zambian players who were playing for Finland side Rovaniemen Palloseura (RoPS) were implicated in a match-fixing scandal that led to a criminal trial last year.

The players received suspended prison sentences for accepting up to $40,000 in bribes to manipulate the outcome of the Football Association of Finland (FAF) matches. Singapore businessman Wilson Fraj Perumal received a two-year prison sentence, reported Xinhua.

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) communication officer Erick Mwanza said the local football governing body had since revoked temporal registration that was given to the players to start taking part in the local league.

He said FIFA had conveyed its decision and the players have since been informed.

The players, he said, were however free to appeal the FIFA decision provided they paid $3,000 and warned other players to take a leaf from the suspensions of the nine players.