Football: Lifetime bans on former Lion K. Kannan and ex-ref lifted after over 26 years

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SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) on Friday (March 18) introduced it has lifted lifetime bans on former nationwide participant Okay. (*26*) and referee Thiru Rajamanickam.

In a media assertion, FAS mentioned its council got here to the choice after receiving written appeals from the 2 in 2021, and that their bans had been lifted on Tuesday.

Rajamanickam was banned in 1994 and (*26*) a 12 months later, each for actions associated to match-fixing.

FAS President Lim Kia Tong mentioned: “In reviewing the 2 appeals, the council had deliberated extensively on the problems and key elements surrounding each instances.

“This choice… doesn’t characterize a softening stance on soccer corruption by the FAS. We stay steadfast in our unwavering stand that the scourge of corruption has no place in soccer and is not going to be tolerated in any kind.

“Any participant or official discovered responsible of such an offence can count on to be handled to the total extent of the FAS Constitution.”

Lim famous that each (*26*), 60, and Rajamanickam, 70, had their appeals to elevate their bans “rejected a number of instances”, which demonstrated the sturdy stand FAS has taken towards match-fixing and corruption.

(*26*) was slapped with a lifetime ban from soccer actions in 1995 after he was convicted of conspiring with two different people to bribe a Singapore participant with S$80,000 in a match towards Perlis in a Malaysia League match in May 1994.

He was sentenced to a 12 months in jail and fined $40,000 for the joint conspiracy cost, and to 18 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay a penalty of $5,000 for corruptly receiving gratification.

Rajamanickam, a former Fifa referee, was handed his lifetime ban from all soccer actions and was deregistered from the FAS referees’ record in 1994 after he was sentenced to eight months’ jail and fined $1,000 for accepting $1,000 as a bribe from a bookmaker.

Rajamanickam was to rearrange for the appointed Malaysian referee to be lenient to the Singapore group in a Malaysia League match with Kelantan in April 1994.

(*26*) mentioned: “My household and I wish to specific our gratitude to my legal professionals at Eugene Thuraisingam LLP and Jose Raymond for serving to me in my attraction.

“They had been sympathetic and went out of their manner to assist me. I’ll at all times be grateful to everybody for his or her assist, even in my darkest hours.

“Football has at all times been my life, and I’ll do no matter I can to contribute again to society in a significant manner.”

In its assertion, FAS mentioned its council “adhered strictly to the factors and necessities of the FAS Constitution”, specifically the circumstances together with the character and extent of the violation, the punishment meted out by the courtroom and the character and the contributions of (*26*) and Rajamanickam.

It added that the council had famous that each males had every had already served over 26 years of suspension, on prime of their respective court-imposed sentences together with jail phrases, and that each have additionally saved clear information since.

(*26*) and Rajamanickam can be required perform programmes and actions, in individual or just about or by way of publication, to assist anti-corruption drives and engagements inside six months of their bans being lifted, mentioned FAS.



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