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Football�s world football governing body FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Zambia over eight players who were illegally imported to play in the country. Fifa has accused the Zambian Football Association of sneaking players suspended for match-fixing into the country outside of the transfer window. The world football governing body is charging the African nation with bringing as many as eight players into the country illegally. In a statement on its website on Saturday, Fifa said: �On 19 February 2013, Fifa opened disciplinary proceedings against the Football Association of Zambia for having allegedly transferred and registered eight players in breach of the Fifa regulations governing the transfer of players. �It appears that eight players were transferred from the Finland Football Association to the Football Association of Zambia outside of the Fifa Transfer Matching System (TMS), without an International Transfer Certificate (ITC), and outside of the registration period. �In addition, the players were all suspended by the Finland Football Association for match-fixing offences and these sanctions were extended as to have worldwide effect by the chairman of the Fifa Disciplinary Committee. �At least four of the eight players apparently played in official matches in Zambia despite being suspended on a worldwide basis. �The Football Association of Zambia is invited to provide its position to Fifa, together with any documentary evidence it might deem appropriate.� In 2011, nine Zambian players received suspended sentences of at least six months from courts in Finland. Seven players from RoPS team in Rovaniemi and two from AC Oulu were linked to taking bribes from Singaporean fixer Wilson Raj Perumal to help Asian organised criminals arrange betting coups. Perumal was arrested in Finland in February 2011 and later jailed after a criminal trial. Now co-operating with authorities in Hungary, Perumal has given evidence which is key to Fifa and law enforcement agencies piecing together the scope of match-fixing plots worldwide carried out by crime syndicates with Singapore connections. Fifa and Interpol have urged governments worldwide to help fight match-fixing, as football authorities have limited investigative powers and jurisdiction only over people within the sport. The Finland FA banned the Zambian players through April 5, 2013, and Fifa extended those sanctions globally. Fifa said on Friday that Faz took over eight players� registration from Finland without proper documents and while they were suspended. The case is embarrassing for Zambia, who raised their profile by winning the 2012 African Cup of Nations, and placing their most senior official in a high-ranking Fifa position. Faz president Kalusha Bwalya, a former playing great, is a member of the Fifa Football Committee and served in 2011-12 as deputy chairman to Franz Beckenbauer on Fifa�s Task Force Football 2014.