football fraud

Liberia: Court of Arbitration For Sport dismisses Bility’s appeal against 10-year-ban

By Darlington Porkpa

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Posted on May 10, 2023 11:18

 © File photo of former Liberia Football Association chairman Musa Bility, who had a 10-year ban slapped on him by FIFA after stealing the organization’s money. (AFP/ ZOOM DOSSO)
File photo of former Liberia Football Association chairman Musa Bility, who had a 10-year ban slapped on him by FIFA after stealing the organization’s money. (AFP/ ZOOM DOSSO)

Former Liberian Football Association president Musa Hassan Bility, who was banned from all FIFA activities for stealing the organisation’s money meant to save lives in Liberia, has lost his appeal against a 10-year ban.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, earlier this month upheld FIFA’s 10-year ban against Bility and the €455,000 ($500,000) fine. FIFA will reportedly keep the ban in place if he does not pay the fine. The 10-year ban by the world’s football governing body, FIFA, was triggered after the Liberian was found guilty of misappropriation of FIFA funds, although the total monies was not indicated. He was found guilty of conflicts of interest, as well as offering and accepting gifts and other benefits.

FIFA’s Ethics Committee brought down a guilty verdict in February 2019 against Bility after he failed to explain how FIFA funding earmarked to save lives during the Ebola epidemic in Liberia was expended.

During this time, Bility doubled as an executive committee member at the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Absconding with Ebola funds

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