New Delhi: Nepal football players who have been charged with treason following a match-fixing probe, were released on bail on Tuesday.


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According to reports, Nepal captain Sagar Thapa and four other players were released on bail. The charges they face could see them face life imprisonment in prison.


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The five players - Sandip Rai, coach Anjan KC, goalkeeper Ritesh Thapa, Bikash Singh as well as Sagar Thapa - are accused of accepting bribes from bookmakers in Malaysia and Singapore to lose matches.


The footballers were arrested last month on charges of match-fixing dating from 2009, including games against Jordan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and the Philippines.


Nepal’s Special Court released them on Tuesday after a bail was granted ranging from 500,000 rupees to 50,000 rupees.


Court official Jaganath Pokhrel said the players would have to appear in court again for questioning. A trial date has not been set. Government prosecutors have charged them with treason, which carries a life term in Nepal.