Nepal's Thapa banned for 10 years by FIFA ethics committee
Monday 16 November 2015 10:42, UK
Ganesh Thapa, president of the All-Nepal FA, has been banned for 10 years by FIFA's ethics committee.
The former Asian Football Confederation vice-president, an influential figure in Asian football over the last two decades, has been suspended for 'various acts of misconduct'.
He is also under investigation by Nepalese authorities having been accused of embezzling millions of pounds of football development money.
Thapa was found to have "committed various acts of misconduct over several years, including the solicitation and acceptance of cash payments from another football official, for both personal and family gain".
These were connected to the 2009 and 2011 elections for the FIFA executive committee at the Asian confederation's congress.
Nepal's government is investigating Thapa after he was accused of embezzling around £4m during his 19-year tenure.
FIFA's ethics committee has also handed out a two-year ban to Viphet Sihachakr, president of the Lao Football Federation.
It said Sihachakr "solicited and accepted a payment from another football official" in relation to the 2011 election.
Meanwhile, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has confirmed it will hear an appeal by David Nakhid after his candidacy for the FIFA presidency was rejected.
The former Trinidad and Tobago international's bid to run was rejected after it was found he had not presented declarations of support from at least five member associations.
It is understood he was rejected on the grounds that one national association nominated both Nakhid and another candidate.
