Caf banned the former Togo FA boss for life

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has lifted "with immediate effect" a life ban imposed on former Togo FA boss Tata Avlessi.

The Switzerland-based body ruled that allegations he tried to bribe referees were unproven.

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) handed down the ban in September last year.

The ban prevented Avlessi from carrying out any football-related activities, including going to grounds.

But according to CAS, the evidence was "not very credible," the tribunal adding that "Caf has not established that Mr Avlessi was guilty of attempted corruption".

He was accused of bribing referees during a match between Togo and Tunisia at the African U-17 Championship in Togo in March 2007.

Meanwhile, the ruling is expected to ignite an appeal from the two match officials who were disciplined for their alleged involvement in the incident.

Gambian match referee Pa Abdou Sarr was banned for life for accepting the alleged bribe.

Attivi Atevi Cessi, who was also a match official at the game, was suspended for four years for allegedly acting as a go-between for the two parties.