AIPS - FIFA can today confirm the worldwide extension of disciplinary sanctions imposed by the Lebanese Football Association against 23 players and one official following match-fixing investigations conducted in Lebanon this year.

Of the players involved, 20 received a one-year ban from all football-related activities while the remaining individuals received a two-year ban, three-year ban and lifetime ban respectively. One official was sanctioned with both a lifetime ban from all football-related activities, as well as a lifetime stadium ban.

The Chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has extended the sanctions to have worldwide effect in accordance with article 78 paragraph 1(c) and article 136ff of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

This follows investigations by the Lebanese FA-appointed Investigation Committee beginning in January that related to actions of betting and corruption committed by some Lebanese officials and players during certain official matches of the Lebanese national team and other matches of the AFC Cup.

The Lebanese FA received a final report from the committee and subsequently passed the sanctions before notifying FIFA of its decisions.

FIFA continues to work closely with its member associations to tackle the issue of match-manipulation. As part of a ten-year collaboration with INTERPOL, regional workshops are organised all over the world to educate stakeholders and provide them with tools to better protect the integrity of the game.

Other FIFA initiatives include the signing of an integrity declaration by officials, the monitoring of the betting market via its subsidiary Early Warning System (EWS and the setting up of an e-learning ethics tools, integrity hotline and e-mail address and confidential reporting system.