As the nation is yet to recover from the Austrian deafeat, another heartbreaking news reached us regarding the expulsion of referee Pa Abdou Sarr of Gambia, who was banned for life for alleged bribery scandal in Togo. Sarr whose referee career has been shattered for good was found wanting together with other Togolese sports officials. The Reuters News agency reports that the President of Togo FA was also suspended for eight years in connection with the said bribery scandal, which cost Sarr his sporting career. Below is the full story...

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CAIRO, July 12 (Reuters) - The president of the Togo FA was suspended for eight years and a Gambian referee has been banned for life after being found guilty of being involved in a bribery scandal, the Confederation of African Football said on Thursday.

Another Togolese official has been banned for four years.

CAF found that Avlessi Adaglo Tata, who was elected president of the Togo FA earlier this year, provided money to the fourth official at the match to pass on the referee, Pa Abdou Sarr of Gambia.

All were found guilty by CAF's disciplinary board, which sat in Cairo last week, of being involved in the bribe ahead of an African Under-17 qualifier between Togo and Tunisia in March.

Togo lost the match 3-0 but still qualified for the U-17 World Cup, which is to be played in South Korea next month.

CAF said it has found that Atevi Cehivi Attivi Cessi, who was the fourth official, had acted as the go-between for the bribe. He has been banned for four years.

"It has been proved that Mr Tata provided the money to Mr Attivi Cessi to pass on to the referee," a CAF statement said without giving any further details.

Reuters has learnt that the sum involved was $3000.

The 39-year-old Sarr has been on FIFA's refereeing panel for the last 11 years.