June 7 (UPI) -- Kenyan referee Aden Marwa will not work at the World Cup, resigning after he was caught taking a bribe, FIFA officials said.
Marwa, 41, was set to be an assistant referee for the 2018 tournament, which begins June 14 in Russia. FIFA told the BBC that Marwa resigned from the post.
Marwa's resignation comes after journalist Anas Aremayaw Anas posed as an official of a Ghanian soccer team and gave Marwa $600 before a match in the African Nations Championship. Footage of the transfer was revealed by BBC Africa Eye.
"We only learnt of the allegations through the media," Football Kenya Federation President Nick Mwendwa told Goal.com.
"As such, we want to let due process take its course, it's important to note that as a federation we are yet to receive any complaint in regard to the match official, whether written, verbal or implied."
FIFA Council member Kwesi Nyantakyi was caught in another sting operation as he placed $65,000 into a plastic bag in an exchange with a reporter pretending to be a business man interested in investing in the Ghanian team, the BBC reported.
Nyantakyi also agreed to a fake sponsorship deal for the Ghanian Football Association, which would allow millions of dollars to be diverted into his own companies, the BBC reported.
Marwa forfeited at least $27,000 in World Cup fees with his withdrawal from the tournament.
FIFA reported Thursday that more than 2.4 million tickets have been allocated to fans around the world since sales began in September.
