July 30 – Kevin Sammut, one of the most influential players in Malta’s fledglng footballing history, has had his 10-year ban for match-fixing extended globally by FIFA.
At the end of May, the Court of Arbitration of Sport reduced on appeal Sammut’s original life ban imposed by UEFA from all football-related activities to 10 years in relation to the rigging of Malta’s 4-0 defeat to Norway in a Euro 2008 qualifier.
Norway scored three goals in the last 18 minutes and Sammut, who was substituted at halftime, was one of three players cited by UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body but the only one sanctioned.
“The chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided to extend the sanctions to have worldwide effect in accordance with article 78 paragraph 1(c) and article 136ff. of the FIFA Disciplinary Code,” football’s world governing body said in a statement.
“The decisions by the chairman have been duly notified to the respective confederations and member associations today (yesterday).”
FIFA has also extended the three-year, six-month sanction imposed in May by the Italian authorities on Ghana’s Mark Edusei in relation to rigging a match in Serie B in 2009.
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