Ex-Churchill player implicated in Lebanon match-fixing

Kuala Lumpur, Feb 28 (IANS) Former Churchill Brothers striker Akram Moghrani is among the 24 Lebanese players who have been suspended by the Lebanese Football Association (LFA) in a match-fixing case.

Moghrani, who signed a one-year deal with the Goan out-fit, has been released by the I-League club earlier this month after he complained of being home-sick.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is now investigating a report from the LFA after 24 players were handed down suspensions ranging from three seasons to life.

Mahmoud El Ali (Persiba Balipapan, Indonesia) and Ramez Dayoub (Selangor, Malaysia) are the only two who have been banned for life.

Dayoub was pulled out by his team minutes before the AFC Cup match against East Bengal that was held in Kolkata, Wednesday. East Bengal won the match 1-0.

The AFC has received the summary report from the LFA on their investigations and subsequent action against involvement of Lebanese players in match-fixing.

AFC has also requested LFA to provide the full investigation report.

The LFA has informed the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the federations of Malaysia and Indonesia of sanctions on Lebanese players plying their trade in these countries.

As per Article 140 of the AFC Disciplinary Code “a sanction imposed by a Member Association has the same effect in each Member Association of AFC as if the sanction had been imposed by any one of them”.

The AFC in a statement said that it has no knowledge on any suspicion surrounding Lebanon’s any of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. AFC lauded the LFA for carrying out the investigation and imposing sanctions.

IANS 2013-02-28 20:46:07