A World Cup referee from Saudi Arabia has been banned from football for life in his home country, just weeks before flying to Russia to officiate at the World Cup 2018.
Fahad Al Mirdasi, a FIFA-listed official since 2011, was one of 36 individuals chosen to officiate at the World Cup.
On Tuesday, the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) accused Mirdasi of fixing the outcome of a football match in exchange for payment, banning him from football in Saudi Arabia for life.
An investigation into the matter revealed that the 32-year-old had asked an Al-Ittihad official for money before a match against Al-Faisaly ... via WhatsApp.
The Al-Ittihad chief, Hamad Al-Senaie, then handed over the messages to SAFF officials, who then referred the matter to The General Authority for Sport - the highest sports authority in Saudi Arabia.
During an interrogation, Al Mirdasi admitted to "soliciting the corrupt payment."
This resulted in a lifetime football ban in Saudi Arabia.
The kingdom's football federation has requested FIFA "hand him a lifetime global ban as well as removing him from the World Cup list," >according to The Independent.
Fifa has requested more information, according to the BBC.
"Fifa notes the information that referee Fahad Al Mirdasi has allegedly been banned from all football-related activities by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF)," the world governing body told BBC Sport.
The 32-year-old earned a FIFA badge in 2011. He then officiated at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and the Confederations Cup in Russia in 2017.