In 2001 Fifa introduced a system where agents had to apply for licences from their national football associations.

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In the report, FIFA ethics court judge Hans-Joachim Eckert wrote that the bribes amounted to millions of dollars' worth of "commission payments" from ISL Group, an agency that marketed media rights for Switzerland-based FIFA before going bankrupt in 2001.

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In 2001 he was given FIFA's Fair Play Award for a "special act of good sportsmanship" while playing for West Ham, when he picked the ball up and refused to score as an opposing goalkeeper lay injured.

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Fifa also banned Guinea from the international stage in 2001 when the government dissolved the country's football federation.

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FIFA, world soccer's governing body, gave the green light to sponsor advertising for referees in domestic leagues in 2001, but it remains forbidden in FIFA competitions such as the World Cup.

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