GENEVA (AP) — FIFA is investigating Zambian officials over allegations they allowed eight players banned for match-fixing in Finland to return to soccer without permission.
FIFA said Friday it opened a disciplinary case and invited the Football Association of Zambia to provide an explanation “together with any documentary evidence it might deem appropriate.”
FIFA said it believes at least four of the players — who were not identified — appeared in official matches in Zambia.
In 2011, nine Zambian players received suspended sentences of at least six months from courts in Finland.
Seven players from RoPS team in Rovaniemi and two from AC Oulu were linked to taking bribes from Singaporean fixer Wilson Raj Perumal to help Asian organized criminals arrange betting coups.
