September 29 – FIFA has handed Marco Antonio Trovato Villalba, president of the Paraguayan club Olimpia, a life-time ban from the game after finding the football official guilty of match manipulation.
The world federation didn’t disclose any details about the precise nature of the match manipulation, but referred “to a series of matches that took place between 2018 and 2019, while he was President of the club.”
FIFA’s disciplinary committee concluded that Trovato breached article 18 of the global governing body’s disciplinary code (manipulation of football matches and competitions) as well as article 20 (duty to collaborate). Trovato was also handed a fine of CHF 100,000, but the club official has vowed to fight the decision. He can appeal to the FIFA Appeal Committee and the Court of Arbitration for Sport at a latter stage.
In a reaction, Trovato dismissed the decision as a “political judgement” and added that “they didn’t take into account any of the evidence that we presented.”
Olimpia is Paraguay’s most successful club, having won the national league 44 times and the Copa Libertadores three times.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1734871821labto1734871821ofdlr1734871821owedi1734871821sni@o1734871821fni1734871821