Federation of International Football Associations (Fifa) has banned Kenyan international footballer George Owino for ten years from footballing activities after he was found guilty of match-fixing.
Owino is said to have earned millions between June 2009 and 2011 in a match-fixing scandal that the world football body investigated and it is in possession of emails that are suspected to be exchanged between the player and match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal.
“The Kenyan player Mr. George Owino Audi has been banned from taking part in any kind of football-related activity at both national and international level (administrative, sports or any other) for a period of ten (10) years. In addition, a fine in the amount of CHF 15,000 has been imposed upon him.” Part of the statement from Fifa read.
Fifa also announced that eight other footballers from Trinidad and Tobago, Benin, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, and Malawi had been banned for life as well as one players’ agent.
The full statement from the Fifa website read: “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has found nine individuals – eight players/former players as well as one players’ agent – guilty of having been involved in match manipulation in violation of art. 69 par. 1 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (Unlawfully influencing match results).
“The following individuals have been banned from taking part in any kind of football-related activity at both national and international level (administrative, sports or any other) for life:
“Mr. Karlon Murray, Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Keyeno Thomas, Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Hellings, Mwakasungula, Malawi, Mr. Ibrahim Kargbo, Sierra Leone, Mr. Kudzanai Shaba, Zimbabwe, Mr. Séïdath Tchomogo, Benin, Mr. Leonel Duarte, Cuba and Mr. Mohammad Salim Israfeel Kohistani, Afghanistan
“Moreover, the Kenyan player Mr George Owino Audi has been banned from taking part in any kind of football-related activity at both national and international level (administrative, sports or any other) for a period of ten (10) years. In addition, a fine in the amount of CHF 15,000 has been imposed upon him.
“The formal disciplinary proceedings into the aforementioned individuals stemmed from an extensive investigation into various international matches that Mr Wilson Raj Perumal attempted to manipulate for betting purposes. This large-scale investigation was conducted by FIFA over several years through its Integrity Department and in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders and authorities.
“The decisions were notified to the individuals concerned, and the relevant bans come into force immediately.”
However, it is said that Owino has appealed the ten-year ban slapped on him by Fifa.
