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Bribery ban lifted

A life ban for bribery imposed on the president of the Togo Football Federation, Tata Avlessi last year has been lifted on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the Lausanne-based court said in a statement on Tuesday.

A life ban for bribery imposed on the president of the Togo Football Federation, Tata Avlessi last year has been lifted on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the Lausanne-based court said in a statement on Tuesday.

Avlessi, elected president of the Togo FA last year, was suspended from all football activity by the Confederation of African Football in September after being accused of attempting to bribe a referee to influence the outcome of an African under-17 match between Togo and Tunisia in March.

He had originally been handed an eight-year ban but after an unsuccessful appeal to CAF had his banned extended to life.

The Gambian match official was also given a life ban.

CAS said CAF's appeal jury had not followed proper procedure and had not given Avlessi an opportunity to defend himself. It also said CAF had been unable to establish if Avlessi was guilty of corruption. - Reuters

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