Nepal match-fixers charged with treason

Five footballers, including Nepal's former national football captain and goalkeeper, have been charged with treason over alleged match-fixing in the 2011 World Cup qualifiers, said an official at the Special Court in Kathmandu where the trial is being heard.

"The government has charged the five footballers arrested last month with treason and has sought a life sentence as punishment," Bhadrakali Pokharel, Registrar at the Special Court told AFP news agency.

Former Captain Sagar Thapa and goalkeeper Ritesh Thapa as well as the three others were arrested last month. Police said significant sums of money were found in their bank accounts from suspected match-fixers in South East Asia.

The athletes allegedly deliberately lost a number of matches during the 2011 World Cup qualifiers.

 

The men have previously denied any wrongdoing and maintain that they are innocent.

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