ZURICH (AP) A seven-year FIFA ban imposed on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid inspector has been cut by four years on appeal.
The original ban imposed on Harold Mayne-Nicholls last year by the FIFA ethics committee was ''not proportionate,'' the soccer body's appeal panel ruled Friday.
The former Chile federation president can return to the sport in July 2018.
Mayne-Nicholls was a potential FIFA presidential election contender when his case was opened in 2014. He was sanctioned for requesting gifts and conflicts of interest.
While inspecting Qatar's hosting bid in 2010, he approached the Aspire training center in Doha about unpaid work and intern positions for a son, nephew and brother-in-law.