By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – The global match-fixing scourge has now spread to Lebanon with the national federation banning two international players for life and handing down suspensions ranging from one to three seasons to 22 others.
The two players suspended for life and fined $15,000 are Mahmoud al-Ali who plays in Indonesia and Malaysian-based Ramez Dayoub, both of whom have played for the Lebanese national team.
The two-month investigation involved over 60 witnesses but Dayoub denies the allegations and has pledged to clear his name.
“I am not guilty. They have suspended me and accused me of matchfixing without any evidence or proof,” Dayoub told FOX Sports.
“This is a serious allegation and I have no doubt there’s something behind this. If I really am guilty of match fixing, FIFA will investigate and suspend me, not the Lebanese FA.”
Lebanon can still technically qualify for their first ever World Cup finals with three matches remaining. They are bottom of their group but a win at leaders Uzbekistan on March 26 could see them move up to joint second in the five-team table. The top two advance to Brazil.
Another two players, both based domestically – Al-Negma’s Mohammad Jaafar and Al Ahed’s Hadi Sahmarani – were kicked out for three seasons and handed $7,000 fines.
The latest bans represent another crushing blow for Asian football which has been riven with match-fixing revelations in China, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and elsewhere in recent years, a major issue to tackle for whoever is appointed as the new Asian Football Confederation president in May.
Meanwhile, former Hungarian defender Gabor Horvath, who now works as a trainer in Dubai, is to return home to face trial with 45 other match-fixing suspects after admitting his involvement.
“I did bet on our games that were fixed, yes, I earned lots of money out of it but also spent it easily,” he told Hungarian media in an alarming confession. “It is a pity that I was at the peak of my career when this disease flourished in Hungary, and I caught it too like so many others.”
Last week Hungarian investigators completed a four-year probe into match-fixing and Horvath, who played for Siofok and Diosgyor, has already given written testimony.
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