FIFA bans Venezuelan football official for 5 years and orders near-$1M fine for financial wrongdoing

FIFA bans Venezuelan football official for 5 years and orders near-$1M fine for financial wrongdoing

FIFA has banned a Venezuelan football official from the sport for five years for financial wrongdoing and fined him nearly $1 million.

Manuel Álvarez was secretary general of the Venezuelan football federation when his conduct enabled the “misappropriation and misuse” of its and FIFA’s money, football’s world body said announcing the verdict late Friday.

FIFA’s ethics committee had also charged Álvarez with breaching “duty of loyalty” and “general duties” under its code.

FIFA, which makes at least $2 million available in funding each year to all 211 member federations, gave no details about the financial misconduct. The verdict can be challenged on appeal.

It is unclear how FIFA can enforce payment of the fine if Álvarez does not return to football.

Venezuela is the only member of the 10-nation CONMEBOL group of South American federations that has never qualified to play at the men’s World Cup.