FIFA extends 27 Italian match-fixing bans

ZURICH (AP) FIFA says it has extended match-fixing bans for 26 players and one official in Italy to apply worldwide.

All 27 were previously prosecuted by the Italian football federation and suspended for between two months and four years.

FIFA, which did not identify those involved, says 23 of the players are Italian and the others are Belgian, Belarusian and Croatian. The official is also Italian.

The cases involved Serie A matches played in the 2010-11 season and second-tier Serie B in 2007-08 and 2008-09.