Ex-Stars defender slapped with a 10 year ban over match fixing

Former Harambee Stars defender George Owino Audi has been banned from taking part in any kind of football-related activity at both national and international level for a period of ten (10) years.

In a statement posted by World Governing body FIFA on its website, Owino was also handed a Ksh 1.5 million fine.

The ban stemmed from an investigation into various international matches that Wilson Raj Perumal attempted to manipulate for betting purposes.

This large-scale investigation was conducted by FIFA over several years through its Integrity Department and in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders and authorities.

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In its 10-page preliminary report dated September 2018, Fifa had accused the Harambee Stars defender of masterminding match manipulation with one ”high-profile international match-fixer Mr Wilson Raj Perumal,” between 2009 and 2011.

From the report, Fifa cited 14 matches which Owino featured in and which they were investigating. In its report, the world football governing body also mentioned a Pascal, a Julius and an Edgar, who all featured for Harambee Stars during the said period.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee also found eight other individuals – seven players/former players as well as one players’ agent – guilty of having been involved in match manipulation in violation of art. 69 par. 1 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (Unlawfully influencing match results)

The following individuals have been banned from taking part in any kind of football-related activity at both national and international level (administrative, sports or any other) for life:

1. Mr Karlon Murray, Trinidad and Tobago
2. Mr Keyeno Thomas, Trinidad and Tobago
3. Mr Hellings Mwakasungula, Malawi
4. Mr Ibrahim Kargbo, Sierra Leone
5. Mr Kudzanai Shaba, Zimbabwe
6. Mr Séïdath Tchomogo, Benin
7. Mr Leonel Duarte, Cuba
8. Mr Mohammad Salim Israfeel Kohistani, Afghanistan

The decisions were notified to the individuals concerned on Wednesday.

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