World Cup Referee 2018 Involved Bribe Scandal
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has asked FIFA to remove Fahad Al Mirdasi's name from the referee's list who will be in charge at the upcoming 2018 World Cup.
This request came after the referee received a life-long active ban from SAFF after being found involved in a bribery scandal to regulate the outcome of a match.
Al Mirdasi, 32, was given the harsh penalty after admitting an offer request against him to set the course of the Saudi Arabia Cup final match between Al Ittihad and Al Faisaly on Saturday (12/5) yesterday.
Now, SAFF looks forward to official responses from FIFA regarding their decisive action against Al Mirdasi.
"Following the statement by the referee, Fahad Al Mirdasi, to arrange a match between Al Ittihad and Al Faisaly in the final, Mr. Hamad Al Saniaa, president of Al Ittihad, contacted us Confirmed he had evidence of the moment Al Mirdasi was willing to set the score for a sum of money" according to the official release of SAFF.
"After the president of Ittihad presented the evidence they had to the SAFF, we sent this conversation to the chairman of the directorate general of sports, who then informed all the authorities."
"Al Mirdasi has been secured and will undergo an administrative investigation and after that, SAFF receives a report from the authorities proving that the referee broke the rules for having admitted his actions to ask for a bribe."
Al Mirdasi previously served in the Confederations Cup last year which also took place in Russia, when he led the race for the third rank between Mexico and Portugal. He also served in the 2016 Olympics.