Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Former Zambia FA president Kalusha Bwalya has been banned for two years by world soccer governing body FIFA.

Bwalya has been banned for his role in Qatar 2022 bribe scandal where he pocketed US$80, 000.

Bwalya, a former president of the Football Association of Zambia, is a Confederation of African Football (Caf) executive committee member.

Fifa said in a statement it had been investigating the 54-year-old since February 2017 "focused principally on benefits that Mr Bwalya had received from Mr Bin Hammam".

In 1988, Bwalya was voted African Player of the Year by CAF and later was appointed coach of the Zambia national team. Bin Hammam was banned for life from football by Fifa in 2011.

The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has banned Kalusha Bwalya, member of the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), for two years from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level.

The investigation against Mr Bwalya was opened on 28 February 2017, and focused principally on benefits that Mr Bwalya had received from Mr Bin Hammam.

The adjudicatory chamber found Mr Bwalya guilty of having violated art. 16 (Confidentiality) and art. 20 (Offering and accepting gifts and other benefits) of the FIFA Code of Ethics. A fine in the amount of CHF 100,000 was also imposed on Mr Bwalya.

The decision was notified to Mr Bwalya today, and the ban comes into force immediately.

*Al Arabiya