FIFA on Monday announced the extension of worldwide lifetime bans on more than a dozen El Salvador national team players who already received bans from El Salvador's soccer federation (FESFUT) less than a month ago due to match-fixing.
The imposed sanctions were handed down to 14current and former Cuscatlecos by FESFUT on Sept. 19 for match fixing that included a 2-1 friendly loss to the US in 2010. Several other players were suspended for one, six and 18 months.
While the FESFUT bans prohibited the players from suiting up in national team colors, the FIFA ban -- which was imposed on the 14 players with lifetime bans and two players suspended six and 18 months, respectively -- relates to all football-related activity.
Of those included in the list of players with a lifetime ban are several MLS alumni: former D.C. United winger Christian Castillo, ex-Chivas USA loanee Osael Romero, ex-New York Red Bull Alfredo Pacheco and onetime San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Ramón Sánchez. Former D.C. playmaker Eliseo Quintanilla received a six-month ban from FESFUT, but it was not clear if he was part of the FIFA sanctions.
The full list of Salvadoran players handed lifetime bans: Luis Anaya, Romero, Sánchez, Castillo, Miguel Granadino, Miguel Montes, Dagoberto Portillo, Dennis Alas (older brother of current San Jose winger Jaime Alas), Darwin Bonilla, Ramón Flores, Pacheco, Mardoqueo Henríquez, Marvin González and Reynaldo Hernández.
