FIFA panel recommends two year ban for ex-German football official

Zurich, May 20: The FIFA ethics committee opened proceedings against the ex-president of the German Football Association Wolfgang Niersbach and recommended a two-year ban from all football related activities on Friday.

Niersbach is a member of the world football governing body FIFA's council, was the vice-president of the 2006 World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) and current member of European governing body UEFA's executive committee.

FIFA has taken the action based on the final report submitted by its investigatory chamber. Niersbach has also been fined around $30,243.

He resigned from his post at the German FA in November over a FIFA payment that has resulted in a tax evasion investigation.

"The investigations concerning Mr Niersbach conducted by Dr Cornel Borbely, chairman of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, were opened on 22 March 2016 and the final report was passed to the adjudicatory chamber on 22 April 2016," FIFA said in a statement.

"In its final report, the investigatory chamber recommends a sanction of a two-year ban from all football-related activity and a fine of CHF 30,000 for violations of arts 13, 15, 18, and 19 of the FIFA Code of Ethics.

"In the course of the proceedings, Mr Niersbach will be invited to submit his position including any evidence with regard to the final report of the investigatory chamber and may request a hearing."