Zimbabwe bans 15 for life for match-fixing

Zimbabwe's football federation says it has given lifetime bans from the sport to 15 players, officials and journalists after investigations into match-fixing and corruption.

The Zimbabwe Football Association, or ZIFA, said its former chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya was among those banned after he was accused of masterminding match-fixing during Asian tours in 2009. Others included former national team captain Method Mwanjale, and the country's most decorated coach Sunday Chidzambwa.

ZIFA said Saturday that 16 players and officials were cleared of any wrongdoing in matches rigged by an Asian betting syndicate linked to Singaporean Wilson Raj Perumal, who has been jailed in Finland.

During the Asian tours, Zimbabwe lost 6-0 to Syria, and 3-0 to Thailand.