BSP-28 Bribery charge sees FIFA drop Saudi World Cup referee

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Bribery charge sees FIFA drop Saudi World Cup referee

LAUSANNE, May 30, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – A Saudi referee who has admitted soliciting a bribe has been deselected from 2018 World Cup duty, the FIFA Referees Committee confirmed on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old Fahad al-Mirdasi refereed games at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and the 2017 Confederations Cup and had been set to oversee World Cup games in Russia.

“Mr. Fahad al-Mirdasi is withdrawn with immediate effect,” a FIFA statement said.

As referees at the 2018 World Cup were selected in teams of three, Mirdasi’s two assistants Mohammed al-Abakry and Abdulah al-Shalwai are also deselected, the FIFA Referees Committee said.

Two weeks ago Mirdasi was given a lifetime ban in Saudi Arabia after admitting soliciting a bribe from a Saudi club, according to the Saudi Football Federation.

Mirdasi had been scheduled to oversee Saudi’s King’s Cup final earlier this month but was suddenly replaced a few hours before kick-off.

BSS/AFP/MMA/2259HRS