FIFA bans referee who fixed game for sexual favors

Photo Courtesy: Reuters

FIFA has imposed a worldwide lifetime ban on Lebanese referee Ali Sabbagh who was convicted for match fixing in exchange for sexual favours.

He and the two linesmen “corruptly receiving gratification in the form of free sexual service,” arranged by Singaporean businessman Eric Ding Si Yang

Sabbagh was initially been sentenced to six months in jail by a Singapore court on 10 June 2013, after pleading guilty to influencing two linesmen to rig an AFC Cup match  between Singapore-based Tampines Rovers and India’s East Bengal which took place on 3 April 2013.

FIFA also apparently extended 10-year bans on Sabbagh’s assistants, Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb, to apply globally.

Ali Sabbagh has been a full international referee for FIFA since 2008.