KATHMANDU: Asian Football Confederation's Disciplinary Committee said that lifetime bans were imposed on five Nepali footballers -- including official Anjan KC and Nepal's national team skipper Sagar Thapa, his deputy Sandip Rai, goalkeeper and former defender Bikash Singh Chhetri -- after a year-long investigation coordinated between the AFC and its partner Sportradar, as well as the Metropolitan Crime Division of the Nepal Police and the UEFA integrity unit.

The five Nepali footballers and Tajikistani referee Murtazoev Parviz, who were provisionally suspended by the AFC Disciplinary Committee on October 16, were banned for life yesterday.

According to the AFC, the Nepali official and other players were found guilty of violating Article 62 and Article 69 of the AFC Disciplinary Code in relation to various friendly international A team fixtures during the period 2008-2012, while the Tajikistani referee was found guilty of conspiring to influence the result of the Maldives vs Tajikistan match in the AFC U-19 Championship on October 6, 2015.

In its decision made on December 4, the 9th AFC Disciplinary Committee categorically said that KC, Chhetri, Thapa duo and Rai are banned from taking part in any football-related activity for life for multiple violations of Articles 62 and 69 of the AFC Disciplinary Code.

The AFC had found Anjan KC guilty of violating AFC Disciplinary Code in two matches -- Afghanistan vs Nepal on October 17, 2008 and Afghanistan vs Nepal on December 9 2009; Bikash Singh Chhetri in two matches -- Afghanistan vs Nepal on October 17, 2008 and Nepal vs Malaysia U-23 on October 15, 2011; Ritesh Thapa in four matches -- Afghanistan vs Nepal on October 17, 2008, Afghanistan vs Nepal on December 9, 2009, Nepal vs Philippines on October 11, 2011, Nepal vs Malaysia U-23 on October 15, 2011; Sagar Thapa in four matches -- Afghanistan vs Nepal on October 17, 2008, Afghanistan vs Nepal on December 9, 2009, Nepal vs Philippines on October 11, 2011, Nepal vs Malaysia U-23 on October 15, 2011 ; and Sandip Rai in three matches -- Afghanistan vs Nepal on December 9, 2009, Nepal vs Philippines on October 11, 2011, Nepal vs Malaysia U-23 on October 15, 2011.

The five, who face subversion charges at the Special Court in Nepal, are currently on bail.

"The AFC has a zero tolerance to match-manipulation and a 360 degree view on the issue through prevention, detection and response," the AFC said, "The three-point strategy includes the provision of integrity training to players, team officials and match officials in all AFC competitions."

The AFC further said that all major AFC competitions are monitored, including this year’s AFC Asian Cup 2015, where zero cases of suspected match-fixing were identified.