El Salvador bans 14 for life from soccer

Published Sep. 20, 2013 10:39 p.m. ET

foxsports

El Salvador's soccer federation has banned 14 national-team players for life for their role in alleged match-fixing, including games against the United States and Mexico.

Among those banned Friday from all soccer activities Friday were goalkeepers Miguel Montes and Dagoberto Portillo, Christian Castillo - a former DC United player - and William Osael Romero, who played for Chivas USA.

The bans are connected with suspected match-fixing in four matches involving the national team, including a 2-1 loss in an exhibition against the U.S. in 2010 and the 5-0 loss to Mexico in the 2011 Gold Cup.

Last month, 22 players received one-month suspensions while the games were investigated. El Salvador has no national team matches planned in the coming months as it investigates the scandal.

National team coach Agustin Alberto Castillo said his next squad would be made up mainly of junior players.

''It would not be prudent to call up players that have been investigated,'' Castillo said.