VIENTIANE, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Lao Football Federation has been unable to answer many of the questions put by local media concerning match manipulation while investigations into suspect players are ongoing, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Wednesday.

The federation issued an official press release on Tuesday, saying they were working with local and international officials to investigate 18 national football players over allegations of match manipulation.

The statement said they were working closely with officials in a bid to find out the facts and ensure nothing of the kind happened in the future.

The federation asked for cooperation from the media during this time and to refrain from asking questions, saying they were unable to provide information that might impact on the investigations.

According to Lao News Agency report earlier, Lao Football Federation General Secretary Xaybandith Rasphone officially resigned from the Lao Football Federation on January 8 after writing a letter to the FIFA, Asian Football Confederation and Asean Football Federation on January 4. The federation has appointed Deputy General Secretary of the federation since 2011, Yodkeo Phawadee, to be the Acting General Secretary of federation.

"After a full term of six years at the top of management of the Lao Football Federation as its Executive General Secretary to manage and deal with high demanding day-to-day football business, now it's time to make way for a new team to carry on the challenging and on-going activities," the outgoing general secretary said to the media.

The President of the Lao Football Federation Viphet Sihachack also told journalist that Xaybandith has a bit hard for his own businesses to work with the federation but he still promised to promote the Lao football circle.