Ali Sabbagh

Ali Sabbagh (Arabic: علي صباغ; born 30 June 1979) is a Lebanese football referee who has been a full international referee for FIFA since 2008.

He also refereed in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, beginning with the match between Nepal and Timor-Leste.

Ali Sabbagh has been sentenced to six months in jail by a Singapore court on 10 June 2013, after pleading guilty to influencing two linesmen to help fix an AFC Cup match which took place on 3 April 2013. He and the two linesmen “corruptly receiving gratification in the form of free sexual service,” arranged by Singaporean businessman Eric Ding Si Yang.

Ali Sabbagh received a lifetime ban from FIFA for agreeing to fix an April 2013 match in Singapore in exchange for sexual favors. The Asian Football Confederation has also banned Sabbagh from refereeing and attending stadiums.