September 26 – Thirteen Estonia-based players and two from Slovakia, already suspended by their own respective federations for match-manipulation, have had their bans extended worldwide by FIFA.
FIFA said two of the Estonian-based players have been provisionally banned until December 31 and another 10 until March 31 next year as a part of an ongoing investigation that started in 2011. The 13th is a Russian, Yaroslav Dmitriev, who has been given a life ban from all football-related activities relating to when he played in the top tier for Ajax Lasnamae.
“The Estonian FA has been cooperating with national judicial authorities after the state prosecutor office opened fraud investigations in 2011 and has subsequently opened its own proceedings against several players,” FIFA said in a statement. “In these 12 cases, the (Estonian FA) disciplinary committee is expected to render final decisions by the end of the year once all the necessary elements have been analysed.”
The Slovak cases involve Ivan Hodur and Robert Rak, who have been banned for 11 and 15 years respectively over the manipulation of club friendlies in 2011. Hodúr had already been hit with a 14-year suspension in December last year in connection with a different case, bringing his total ban to 25 years.
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