World football governing body FIFA have banned one of Tanzania’s top referees for life ban from football after finding him guilty of taking bribes.
Oden Charles Mbaga, a referee affiliated to the Tanzanian federation, is said to have recieved bribes “to manipulate several national and international matches between 2009 – 2012” with no further details of the games given.
Speaking from Dar es Salaam, Mbaga told the news agency he was questioned by Fifa in 2010 but had not heard anything since and knew nothing about match-fixing.
“This is shocking news to me,” he said.
“I know Fifa was doing an investigation and the last time they came to interview me about the issue was in 2010.
“I told them openly that I don’t know anything about match-fixing and I have never heard anything from them since then.
“For now, I cannot say anything as I don’t have clear information.”
Mbaga has also been fined $200,000.
The Tanzanian referee becomes the second African referee in as many months to be slapped with a life ban by Fifa for bribery after Ibrahim Chaibou from Niger was also found guilty of a similar offence as Mbaga.