Singapore regulator investigates football officials

Allegations have been made of a Singapore syndicate being a key part of global match-fixing ring

Singapore's anti corruption agency, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), has said it is investigating three Lebanese football officials.

The officials, who were in Singapore to referee a match, were taken in for questioning on Wednesday.

The inquiry comes just weeks after a Singapore syndicate was named as a key part of a global match-fixing ring.

However, the CPIB did not say if the three Lebanese officials were part of the match-fixing investigation.

But the agency did issue a statement saying that it adopted a "zero tolerance approach towards corruption, and match-fixing of any kind is not condoned in Singapore".

The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) confirmed that the officials that were taken in for questioning were referee Ali Sabbagh and assistant referees Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb.

The FAS said the officials were "assisting the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau in their investigations".

"Singapore and FAS have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to match-fixing and football corruption which includes the imposition of permanent suspension from all football activities on any player or official convicted in a court of law for football corruption offences," the FAS said in a statement.

"We take a serious view of allegations pertaining to match-fixing and football corruption activities and the authorities and FAS will spare no effort in minimising the possibility of such activities taking place within the local football scene."

Earlier this year, Singapore police said that a businessman, Tan Seet Eng, also known as Dan Tan, was helping Singapore authorities with their inquiries.

Mr Tan is said to be the central figure in a match-fixing organisation under investigation by Interpol.