Kalusha Bwalya was banned by FIFA from all football-related activities for two years.GETTY IMAGES
FIFA banned Zambia's former African Footballer of the Year, Kalusha Bwalya, for two years, according to the BBC. Its decision follows an investigation into his links to banned Qatari official Mohammed Bin Hammam. It found that Bwalya "accepted a gift," violating FIFA's code of ethics. FIFA's ethics committee said that the ban was from "all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level" (BBC, 8/10). TIMES LIVE's Marc Strydom reported Bwalya said that he will appeal FIFA's ethics committee's ruling. In a statement, Bwalya said, "I am surprised and saddened by today's receipt of the notification from the Fifa Ethics Committee adjudication. I have instructed my legal team to immediately appeal this decision urgently and would like to state that I am NOT guilty of any offence, which allegedly took place. ... Fifa's decision is not final and I will fight tooth and nail for justice to clear my name" (TIMES LIVE, 8/11).
HEADS UP: The BBC reported UEFA opened a disciplinary case "after an assistant referee's head was cut open by a full drink thrown by a fan" in a Europa League match. The incident happened during Austrian club Sturm Graz's home fixture with Cypriot club AEK Larnaca on Thursday. TV footage "clearly shows a home fan rising from his seat and aiming the heavy projectile towards the assistant" (BBC, 8/10).
