Ethics: three former presidents of federations (GUM, NCA, VEN) suspended for life by FIFA

Richard Lai, former president of the Guam Football Federation and member of the FIFA audit and compliance committee; Julio Rocha, former president of the Nicaraguan Football Federation and FIFA development officer; and Rafael Esquivel, former president of the Venezuelan Football Federation and vice-president of CONMEBOL, have been suspended for life from any activity (administrative, sporting, or other) related to football, at the national and international levels, announced the independent ethics committee of FIFA on 21/11/2017.

"In her final reports, the chairwoman of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee (Ms Maria Claudia Rojas) recommended imposing on both Mr Esquivel Melo and Mr Rocha a lifelong ban on taking part in any kind of football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) for an alleged violation of the general rules of conduct (art. 13 of the FIFA Code of Ethics (FCE)), loyalty (art. 15 FCE), duty of disclosure, cooperation and reporting (art. 18 FCE), conflicts of interest (art. 19 FCE), bribery and corruption (art. 21 FCE) and general…