Ashraf MbaziiraThe Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) disciplinary committee has sanctioned Ugandan footballer Ashraf Mbazira with a worldwide ban from all football-related activities over his involvement in match-fixing. The decision, issued on April 1, 2026, follows a ruling by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) Ethics and Disciplinary Committee on March 12, 2026. FIFA confirmed that the sanction has been extended globally in accordance with Article 70 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which allows penalties imposed by national associations to take effect across all member associations and competitions. According to FIFA, Mbazira was found guilty of participating in match manipulation during a Uganda Premier League fixture between Kitara FC and Express FC in 2024. The ban took effect from March 12, 2026, and bars him from engaging in any football-related activity at both national and international levels. FIFA emphasised its zero-tolerance stance on match-fixing, noting that such actions undermine the integrity of the sport. The global football body reaffirmed its commitment to working with member associations, including FUFA, to combat corruption and safeguard fair play. FUFA communications director Ahmed Hussein said the federation fully supports FIFA’s decision. “This decision sends a clear and strong message that match-fixing and any form of manipulation of the game will not be tolerated. FUFA remains committed to working with FIFA and other stakeholders to protect the integrity of football in Uganda,” Hussein said. Mbazira’s sanction adds to a growing list of Ugandan football officials and players punished over the same match-fixing scandal. FIFA earlier handed global bans to former Express FC head coach Mike Mutyaba, goalkeeper Emmanuel Kalyowa, and former club chief executive officer Miiro Ashraf Mwanje after they were found culpable in the manipulation of the same 2024 fixture. Football authorities say the coordinated sanctions signal a firm crackdown on match-fixing, which has increasingly threatened the credibility of the game both in Uganda and globally. Match-fixing involves the illegal manipulation of the outcome of a sports match or specific events within a game, often for financial gain through betting. The global betting market, both legal and illegal, is estimated to generate more than one trillion US dollars annually.The post FIFA hands Ugandan footballer Mbazira worldwide ban over match-fixing appeared first on The Observer.