Football Federation President banned for two years and fined US$40,000

Venold Coombs, President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) has been banned for two years from all football-related activities and fined US$40,000.

The decision to ban Coombs was taken by the adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee of FIFA, the Federation of International Football Associations.

The ban, which was published on FIFA.com on Tuesday, relates to all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both the national and international level.

The investigation into Coombs was opened on June 9, 2016 and focused on the resale of tickets for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. The investigatory chamber analysed allegations that Coombs had sold tickets purchased by the SVGFF and by him personally, in his capacity as a FIFA standing committee member, for a profiteering mark-up.

The adjudicatory chamber found Coombs guilty of having violated articles 21 (Bribery and corruption), 19 (Conflicts of interest) and 15 (Loyalty) of the FIFA Code of Ethics.

“Coombs is therefore banned for two years from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level. A fine in the amount of USD 40,000 has also been imposed on Mr Coombs,” the statement from the independent Ethics Committee said.

The decision was notified to Coombs today, Tuesday and the ban comes into force immediately.