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South African football official banned for 30 years; club relegated

Other News Materials 1 May 2008 00:35 (UTC +04:00)

The chairman of a South African first division club has been banned for 30 years and his club relegated to the second division after both were found guilty of bribery and corruption, the dpa reported.

FC AK won the inland stream of the South African first division and were scheduled to play-off for a place in the Premier League (PSL) against the winner of the coastal stream, Maritzburg United later this month.

FC AK owner and chairman Aziz Kara were charged by the league of having attempted to bribe the goalkeeper of an opposing club, who had previously played for FC AK.

In a statement released late Wednesday, the PSL said both Kara and the club were found guilty on charges of bribery and corruption.

They said they had taken the seriousness of the offences, as well as the fact that both the club and the chairman are first offenders and jointly employ over 250 people into consideration when reaching a verdict.

The PSL said that they would instruct the South African Football Association to request the world controlling body FIFA that the ban should be worldwide.

They also fined Kara and the club 500,000 Rand (60,000 dollars) and ordered them to pay costs.

Both Kara and the club have the right to appeal the decision or to go to arbitration.

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