FIFA announced yesterday that it has extended worldwide the bans for 26 players and one official invol-ved in cases of match-fixing in Italy.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) conducted an investigation this summer and suspended 26 unnamed players – 23 of them Italian. A Belgian, Belarusian and Croatian were the other three players to be punished.

The lengths of bans range from two months to four years, with an Italian official hit with a ban from all football-related activity for a period of four years.

The extension of these bans follows two proceedings – the “Bari bis” and the “Cremona quater” – carried out by the FIGC regarding match manipulation.

FIFA said in a statement: “After being informed by the FIGC of the various decisions rendered by the association’s judicial bodies in both proceedings, and after a careful analysis of the files and documents provided on request by FIFA, the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee decided to extend the sanctions imposed on 26 players and one official to have worldwide effect in accordance with art. 136 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC).

“FIFA continues to work closely with its member associations and the confederations to tackle match manipulation.”

FIFA said in their statement that they are working closely with member federations, associations and INTERPOL to combat match-fixing.