A World Cup-bound Kenyan referee, Adel Marwa, has opted out of the forthcoming tournament in Russia after he was filmed collecting $600 in cash gift.

Adel Marwa was exposed by an undercover investigation spearheaded by investigative journalist Anas Anas from Ghana.

He was given the cash gift by an undercover reporter posing as an official of a top Ghanaian football side.

Marwa was the only Kenyan from the list of 16 African officials scheduled to be part of the World Cup in Russia but the latest development has prompted him to resign from his position as confirmed by world football’s governing body, FIFA.

“Thank you for the gift, but you know, the most important is our friendship, getting to know each other.” the 41-year old stated after accepting the money offered him by an undercover reporter he met for the first time some minutes earlier.