ZURICH — FIFA has imposed a five-year ban on a Venezuelan soccer official due to financial misconduct and has ordered him to pay a fine close to $1 million.

Manuel Álvarez, who previously held the position of secretary general of the Venezuelan soccer federation, was found responsible for facilitating the “misappropriation and misuse” of funds belonging to both the federation and FIFA. This decision was highlighted in a statement released by soccer’s global governing body on Friday.

The ethics committee of FIFA also accused Álvarez of violating principles related to “duty of loyalty” and other “general duties” as outlined in their code of conduct.

Although FIFA allocates at least $2 million annually to support each of its 211 member federations, the specific details regarding his financial improprieties have not been disclosed. Álvarez has the option to appeal this ruling.

There are also concerns about how FIFA will enforce the payment of the fine if Álvarez is not involved in soccer again in the future.

Notably, Venezuela remains the only member of the 10-nation CONMEBOL group of South American soccer federations that has never succeeded in qualifying for the men’s World Cup.