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This is an archive article published on July 1, 2004

FIFA suspends arrested South African referee

FIFA have moved quickly to suspended the referee implicated in a match-fixing scandal in South Africa, replacing him as the designated offic...

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FIFA have moved quickly to suspended the referee implicated in a match-fixing scandal in South Africa, replacing him as the designated official for a World Cup qualifier on Saturday, a spokesman said on Wednesday.

Petros Mathebela, one of three FIFA accredited referees arrested in South Africa last week, has been withdrawn from the African zone group four qualifier between Sudan and Libya in Khartoum on Saturday.

He will be replaced by compatriot Daniel Bennett, FIFA said.

FIFA referees Mathebela, Simon Motau and Ronnie Marhule were all arrested last week as part of the investigation codenamed 8216;Operation Dribble8217;, which has uncovered widespread match-fixing in the country8217;s premier soccer league and first division.

The trio are among 16 South African referees arrested so far in the ongoing probe.

Marhule appeared in court last week while Mathebela and Motau were given bail after their court appearances on Monday, according to a FIFA spokesperson.

 

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