By Andrew Warshaw
April 24 – Twenty-three players and one official who were sanctioned by Lebanese authorities in February for helping to rig international and regional matches have had their bans extended worldwide by FIFA.
FIFA says the case involved ”betting and corruption committed by some Lebanese officials and players during certain official matches of the Lebanese national team and other matches.”
One player – identified by the Lebanon Football Association as Ramez Dayoub – and the official involved were banned for life. Other players were thrown out for two to three years with most receiving one-year sanctions.
Dayoub was among six suspended players who represented Lebanon in World Cup qualifying.
The Lebanese conducted a two-month investigation involving over 60 witnesses which was led by the general secretary of the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF), Fadi Zreiqat. The Asian Football Confederation said it was not aware of any suspicion linking Lebanon’s World Cup qualifiers to the scandal.
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