FIFA has banned a Venezuelan soccer official from the sport for five years for financial misconduct and fined him nearly $1 million.
Manuel Álvarez was secretary general of the Venezuelan soccer federation when his behavior enabled the “contradiction and misuse” of the body’s and FIFA’s money, the world soccer body said in announcing the verdict late Friday.
FIFA’s ethics committee also accused Álvarez of violating the “duty of loyalty” and “general obligations” under its code.
FIFA, which makes at least $2 million available annually to all 211 member associations, provided no details about financial misconduct. The judgment can be appealed against.
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 to have never qualified to play in the Men’s World Cup.
