Fifa gives life bans to 41 South Koreans for match-fixing

SEOUL (REUTERS) - Forty-one South Korean players have been handed worldwide lifetime bans following a match-fixing scandal in the country's K-League, world governing body Fifa said on Wednesday.

The 41, charged after a domestic match-fixing investigation dating back to 2011, received lifetime bans from all football activity by the K-League and the Korea Football Association and Fifa's disciplinary committee extended the sanctions to have worldwide effect.

South Korean sport has been marred by match-fixing allegations in professional football, volleyball and baseball, forcing the government to declare war on the issue.

In February football officials scrapped the K-League Cup competition as part of sweeping changes brought in to avoid a repeat of last year's match-fixing scandal.