FIFA bans three football officials for life

Three former football officials have been banned for life by the ethics watchdogs of FIFA.
The officials are from Guam, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

FIFA said on Tuesday that they were banned as part of efforts to address widespread corruption in the sport.
The officials are Richard Lai, the former Guam Football Association president and a former member of the FIFA audit and compliance committee.
Others are Julio Rocha, the former Nicaraguan Football Association president and a former FIFA development officer; and Rafael Esquivel, former Venezuelan Football Association president.
They have all pleaded guilty in the United States to separate federal charges ranging from wire fraud to racketeering and money laundering.

Lai had admitted to taking one million dollars from officials looking to buy influence, with powerful International Olympic Committee member Ahmad Al-Sabah of Kuwait implicated.
Rocha and Esquivel also admitted to have taken bribes in exchange for the awarding of media and marketing rights of matches including World Cup qualifiers and regional tournaments such as the Copa America.