Clean up football
THE information to be shared by the head of security for the Federation of International Football Association (Fifa), the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the Royal Malaysian Police may turn out to be limited to two Malaysians involved in an Asian syndicate and the two friendly matches between Malaysia and "Zimbabwe". Though the Fifa probe may not involve matches in the domestic leagues and is directed at local operations fixing matches overseas, one still expects the local football authorities to do everything that is possible to tackle the scourge of match-fixing. As the state of the game has barely recovered from the far-reaching match-fixing scandal of 1994-95, when more than 100 players were banned for life, it's absolutely vital to make sure that nothing like that would ever happen again. To be sure, the FAM and the police cannot act based on mere hearsay.
But the fact that the mere whiff of suspicion that a match has been thrown is enough to eat away at the credibility of the game should be sufficient reason for a prompt response. As this is a sport that is rife with whispers of match-fixing of late, a tight-lipped and tardy response will not do. This is why, as much as it's difficult to prove, once there is a rumour on the ground, it behoves the FAM to open an inquiry and take the appropriate action to keep football clean.
This is the line of action that the world football governing body seems to have taken. Claims that more than 300 matches in Asia, Africa and Europe have been fixed are, of course, currently the subject of investigations. About 70 arrests have been made in Turkey and another 26 in Croatia in connection with the case in a court in Bochum, Germany, against six men accused of manipulating matches in Europe. In addition, Fifa will give some RM86 million to Interpol to fund a 10-year anti-corruption prevention programme for players, referees and official at the international police agency's centre in Singapore.
This is the line of action that the world football governing body seems to have taken. Claims that more than 300 matches in Asia, Africa and Europe have been fixed are, of course, currently the subject of investigations. About 70 arrests have been made in Turkey and another 26 in Croatia in connection with the case in a court in Bochum, Germany, against six men accused of manipulating matches in Europe. In addition, Fifa will give some RM86 million to Interpol to fund a 10-year anti-corruption prevention programme for players, referees and official at the international police agency's centre in Singapore.
However, there is little doubt that the successes against match-fixing have been overshadowed, and Fifa's reputation sullied, by the questions raised over the World Cup bidding process and allegations that favours have been asked by its senior officials in return for votes. Fifa must put its own house in order to protect the integrity of the game. Otherwise, the beautiful game is in danger of disappearing into a "black hole", whether or not the incumbent Fifa president wins a fourth term on June 1.
Dated-18/05/2011
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