15 Oct 2015

FIFA bans Sth African official for six years

10:09 am on 15 October 2015

FIFA's Ethics Committee has banned former South African Football Association official Lindile Kika for six years, adding to a string of suspensions at the sport's governing body.

Fan holds a banner protesting against Sepp Blatter prior to Euro 16 qualifying match between England and Estonia at Wembley on October 9, 2015 in London.

Fan holds a banner protesting against Sepp Blatter prior to Euro 16 qualifying match between England and Estonia at Wembley on October 9, 2015 in London. Photo: Getty Images

Zurich-based FIFA has been in turmoil since May over corruption allegations. But its ethics investigators are believed to regard match-fixing as the biggest threat to the sport, and the toughest to combat.

Proceedings against Kika were opened in November 2014 in relation to several international friendly matches played in South Africa in 2010.

The Ethics Committee said in a statement that the decision to ban him for six years was related to FIFA regulations on conduct, loyalty, duty of disclosure and other issues.

The scandal has spread throughout FIFA, which last week handed president Sepp Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini 90-day suspensions pending a formal investigation.

- Reuters

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