Fifa imposes worldwide ban on Zambian playersBy XINHUA | Friday, May 4   2012 at  14:30

World soccer governing body Fifa has extended a two-year suspension for nine Zambian soccer players implicated in a match fixing scandal last year in Finland to apply worldwide until April 5, 2013.

The nine Zambian players who were playing for Finland side RoPS were implicated in a match-fixing scandal that led to a criminal trial last year.

The players received suspended prison sentences for accepting up to $40,000 in bribes to manipulate the outcome of Football Association of Finland (FAF) matches.

Singapore businessman Wilson Fraj Perumal received a two-year prison sentence.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) communication officer Erick Mwanza said the local soccer governing body has since revoked temporal registration that was given to the players to start taking part in the local league.

He said Fifa had written to the local soccer governing body about its decision and that the players and their local clubs have since been informed.

The players, he said, were however free to appeal the Fifa decision provided they paid $3,000 and warned other players to take a leaf from the suspensions of the nine players.

"This should act as a warning to other players that cheating does not pay and I hope others will learn from what has happened to their friends.

As FAZ, we shall not tolerate such acts of corruption and match-fixing," he was quoted as saying by the paper.

The affected players are Godfrey Chibanga, Chileshe Chibwe, Steven Kunda, Christopher Musonda, Chanda Mwaba, Nchimunya Mweetwa, Dominic Yobe, Donwell Yobe and Francis Kombw.