HARARE/ZURICH: In yet another example of the difficulties in pursuing football matchfixers, 33 of the 90 Zimbabwean players accused of bending results have been acquitted.

All the acquitted, play for the local league except Ovidy Karuru from Boulogne inFrance and Khama Billiat of Ajax in South Africa.

The scandal dates back to 2009 when the Zimbabwean national team played a series of matches in Thailand, Syria and Malaysia whose scores are said to have been known in advance.

Henrietta Rushwaya, then then president of the Zimbabwean football federation, was arrested last year then released on bail.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has always insisted said that guilty officials and players should be banned for life.

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