FIFA has banned Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) general secretary Abu Naeem Sohag from all football activities for two years for fraud. Besides, he was also fined about Tk. 12 lakhs in Bangladeshi currency.
The world football governing body confirmed this in a statement on their official website on Friday (April 14).
According to FIFA, the decision was taken due to false information regarding FIFA money given to FIFA. FIFA mentioned that a letter has already been sent to Abu Naeem informing about the punishment. Copies of the letter have been given to the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
FIFA said the Adjudication Chamber was satisfied with the evidence gathered during the investigation conducted by the Investigative Chamber on the applicable procedures. After conducting the hearing, the evidence presented by him was carefully analyzed. It showed that he has violated FIFA Article-13. In addition FIFA Code of Ethics 2020 Edition General Duties-15 (Duties of Loyalty) and Article-24 of Fraud and Perjury.
Earlier, FIFA General Secretary Abu Naeem Sohag personally went to the FIFA headquarters in Zurich to respond to the show cause notice for alleged financial irregularities. But he was not saved in the end. He was banned for two years by FIFA's independent ethics committee. The main allegation against him is that he showed false documents to show the expenditure of the money given by FIFA.