A FIFA investigator "has proposed at least a six-year ban" and 10,000 Swiss francs ($10,393) fine for former South African FA President Kirsten Nematandani over "alleged ethics violations" connected to fixing int'l friendlies in '10, according to Brian Homewood of REUTERS. The investigator, Djimbaraye Bourngar, "also recommended life bans" for former Zimbabwe FA official Jonathan Musavengana and former Togo national team coach Bana Tchanile for alleged bribery and corruption violations. FIFA said in a statement, "The investigations into the three individuals were initiated in relation to their specific conduct in the organization of several international friendly matches played in South Africa in 2010." Nematandani, head of the SAFA from '09 until '13, "had violated articles on general conduct, loyalty and disclosure, FIFA said." Tchanile has already been banned from football for three years by his country's federation after "taking a team masquerading as the Togo national side" to play a friendly with Bahrain in '10. None of the three "could be reached for comment" (REUTERS, 8/17). The BBC reported in Dec. '12 Nematandani -- then serving as SAFA president -- was suspended by FIFA which found "compelling evidence" that friendly internationals were fixed by Far East betting syndicates. A FIFA investigation discovered that SAFA was "infiltrated by convicted Singaporean match-fixer Wilson Perumal" and his Football 4U organization. Perumal organized referees for the games against Thailand, Bulgaria, Colombia and Guatemala, "the outcomes of which were found to have been pre-arranged to benefit an Asian betting syndicate" (BBC, 8/17).
