The Asian Football Confederation has imposed lengthy bans on a Mongolian match official and a player for attempting to manipulate the outcome of a match in the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025/26 preliminary stage.
The decision was taken by the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee, which on Wednesday confirmed strict action against the individuals involved.
“Following an extensive investigation, the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee has taken firm action against attempted match manipulation by banning Mongolian football official Ms. Munkhtsetseg Batkhuu and player Ms. Namuuna Narmandakh from all football-related activities for ten and five years, respectively,” the AFC said in a statement.
Both Munkhtsetseg Batkhuu and Namuuna Narmandakh were found guilty of conspiring to influence the result of the preliminary-stage clash between Stallion Laguna FC and Khovd Western FC on August 25, 2025, in violation of Article 66.1 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code.
“These sanctions reaffirm the AFC’s zero-tolerance policy against any type of match manipulation,” the statement added, underlining the confederation’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the game.
The move is in line with the AFC’s four-year Memorandum of Understanding with the International Betting Integrity Association, signed in 2024 to combat irregular betting and corruption in football.
The action also reflects the broader global stance led by FIFA, with president Gianni Infantino previously warning that match manipulation remains a persistent threat that requires collective action.