LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Former FIFA executive committee member Vernon Manilal Fernando has lost his appeal against a life ban from soccer for bribery and corruption. The Court of Arbitration for Sport says its panel has dismissed Fernando's appeal. Fernando, a Sri Lankan who is a former ally of Mohamed Bin Hammam, was expelled by the FIFA appeals committee in October 2013 for multiple ethics violations. FIFA never specified details of the case, though cited code of ethics rules relating to bribery, conflicts of interest and accepting gifts. FIFA ethics judge Joachim Eckert had suspended Fernando for eight years. That sanction was challenged by then-FIFA ethics prosecutor Michael Garcia, who sought a life ban. — AP
