FIFA panel bans three former soccer officials for life

PHOTO:Richard Lai

FIFA’s ethics watchdogs have banned three former soccer officials from Guam, Nicaragua and Venezuela for life as part of efforts to address widespread corruption in the sport, the world football governing body said on Tuesday.

The latest officials to be hit by FIFA bans are the former Guam Football Association President and a former member of the FIFA audit and compliance committee Richard Lai; the former Nicaraguan Football Association president and a former FIFA development officer Julio Rocha; and former Venezuelan Football Association president Rafael Esquivel.

PHOTO: Rafael Esquivel

All three men had pleaded guilty in the United States to separate federal charges ranging from wire fraud to racketeering and money laundering.

Richard Lai served in the Asian Football Confederation as a member of the marketing committee. He was also a member of the audit and compliance committee for world governing soccer organization FIFA. He was accused of pocketing worth $ 100,000 to influence the presidential vote in 2011 which former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter won unopposed. Another bribery case is when pleaded guilty of receiving $ 850,000 from soccer officials in AFC in a period of 2009 to 2012.

PHOTO: Julio Rocha

Julio Rocha on the other hand has been accused of amassing bribe of $ 150,000 after perpetrating the sale of marketing rights. Venezuelan Rafael Esquivel is accused of engaging in fraud including bribery and money laundering.