Saudi Arabian referee Fahad Al Mirdasi who is bound to officiate the 2018 World Cup will not see his dream come true after he was slapped with a lifetime ban for offering to accept a bribe to influence the outcome of a match.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) proceeded to ask FIFA to remove referee from the upcoming global showpiece in Russia. The 32-year-old confessed to offering to fix Saturday’s King’s Cup final between Al-Ittihad and Al-Faisaly in Saudi Arabia.
“Following the appointment of the referee, Fahad Al Mirdasi, to manage the match between Al-Ittihad and Al-Faisaly in the Cup final, Mr. Hamad Al-Saniaa, the president of Al-Ittihad club, addressed the Saudi football federation,” a SAFF statement read.” he added.
After the president of Ittihad club presented what was in his possession to the Federation of Football, the Saudi Federation sent this conversation to the Chairman of the General Directorate of Sport, who in turn informed the competent authorities in all detail.
Al Mirdasi officiated the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia, where he oversaw the third-place match between Mexico and Portugal, having also officiated at the 2016 Olympic Games.