Former Botswana Football Official Banned for Life

FIFA has banned former Botswana Football Association (BFA) general secretary, Mooketsi ‘Tosh’ Kgotlele from any footballing activity for life and fined him CHF 50,000.

According to a FIFA statement, Kgotlele was found guilty of having accepted bribes in relation to the manipulation of international matches.

The formal ethics proceedings against Kgotlele were initiated on 6 September 2018 and stem from an extensive investigation into various attempts to manipulate international matches for betting purposes by Wilson Raj Perumal, a known match-fixer.

A large-scale investigation was conducted by FIFA through its competent departments and in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders and authorities.

In its decision, the adjudicatory chamber of the Independent Ethics Committee found that Kgotlele had breached art. 12 (Bribery) of the 2006 edition of the FIFA Code of Ethics and banned him for life from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level.

Kgotlele was initially suspended by the BFA in 2010 after a fateful trip to China where Botswana national team lost 4-1 in a friendly.

It is said the official was offered something in the region of $70,000 to influence the outcome of the match, which was played during China Independent Day.

A diplomat in the Chinese embassy was alleged to have handed the money to Kgotlele as part of the deal influenced by the fact that the Team Dragon were prepared to win the match by hook or crook.

The former Notwane official was finally fired by BFA in April 2010 after serving a seven months suspension.