Scandal-Ridden FIFA Delivers Latest Bans

(ATR)In the latest move to eradicate corruption in world football's governing body, FIFA has banned two officials from Laos and Nepal for taking cash during FIFA elections.

On Monday, All-Nepal Football Association (ANFA) president Ganesh Thapa was banned for 10 years and fined approximately $19, 870.Viphet Sihachakr, president of the Laotian Football Federation, was fined about $39, 354 and received a two-year ban.

FIFA's ethics committee said in a statement that during the 2009 and 2011 FIFA Executive Committee elections, Thapa"committed various acts of misconduct including the solicitation and acceptance of cash payments from another football official, for both personal and family gain."

Sihachakr solicited and accepted a payment from another football official during 2011 elections, the committee added.

Thapa rebuffed the charges in a statement."I am very disappointed and I do not believe that justice has been served.

"I have fully cooperated with FIFA during their investigations since the last four years."

Nepali police arrested five former and current national team players on match-fixing charges in October.ANFA chief executive Indra Man Tuladhar told Reuters an ANFA executive meeting will meet within the next 14 days to "make a decision about its future course."

Karma Tsering Sherpa, a vice president of ANFA, said the ban is an opportunity for change."Now is the time for us to take Nepali football in a new direction," he told Reuters. "We begin with the meeting of the executive committee but there is a lot of work ahead."

FIFA plummeted into crisis-mode last May following the U.S. indictments of 14 football officials for alleged corruption. The list of officials charged included two FIFA vice-presidents and sports marketing executives.

Sepp Blatter, who has been at the helm of world football since 1998, is suspended. FIFA plans to elect a new president in Feb. of next year.

Written byNicole Bennett

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