FIFA bans Italian, Korean players and officials for match-fixing

Football’s governing body FIFA has banned 74 Italian and South Korean officials and players from world football on charges of match-fixing.

FIFA, which extended sanctions internationally on 70 individuals, including 11 life bans, has identified the charges involved as match-fixing, including direct involvement or omission to report the crime, illegal betting or association to commit illegal acts, Sport24 reports.

FIFA further said that four new South Korean cases follow worldwide sanctions imposed on 10 people last year and a further 41 last month.

The latest global sanctions were announced two days after FIFA extended bans to 58 people for match-fixing offenses in China, of which 33, including 2002 World Cup referee Lu Jun, were expelled for life from the sport, the report added.