KUALA LUMPUR: Five players and three officials from a Malaysian lower league club have been banned for life for match-fixing.

The eight from the Kuala Lumpur club were also fined $6,100 by the Football Association of Malaysia.

The officials were coach Stanislav Lieskovsky, assistant manager Rosli Omar and kitman Shaari Jani though the Slovak manager had already returned home to Europe in July.

The five Malaysian players named were 29-year-old defender Jeremy Danker, 28-year-old right back Hafizi Roslee, 26-year-old centreback Fadhulah Yunsiar, 31-year-old midfielder Khairul Anuar and 22-year-old goalkeeper Phoo Kai Lun.

The three-times Malaysia Cup winners have suffered back-to-back relegations from the top-flight and will compete in the third tier next year.

Hafizi had been charged by the FAM disciplinary committee in September and suspended for six months after ‘failing to play to a level that is considered satisfactory’ in a 5-0 league loss to Sime Darby in May.

He was the first player to be charged under the unsporting behaviour law by the FAM after he was adjudged to have acted unprofessionally by ‘giving’ the ball to an opponent.

Banners with the words ‘Bookie detected’ were seen at the match which was investigated by local police.

Kuala Lumpur FA president Astaman Abdul Aziz said he hoped all stakeholders in Malaysian football would continue to strive to clean up the local game. He added: “We will provide any form of assistance to the relevant authorities to fight corruption. We want the game to be clear of this disease.”

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