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National team players alleged to have taken bribes to throw matches played in Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand.
Eighty Zimbabwean footballers have been suspended because of alleged involvement in Asian betting syndicates linked to match-fixing.
The country's sports minister said football was "riddled with corruption", and called for politics to be rooted out of the sport.The players, including leading members of the national team, are alleged to have taken bribes to throw friendly matches between 2007 and 2009.The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) has set up an independent ethics committee to investigate the alleged fixing, which it believes took place when the national team played in Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand.
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The games were not part of any competition. In fact, it is now suspected they were arranged specifically for the purpose of betting. The scandal has been dubbed "Asiagate" by the Zimbabwean press.Jonathan Mashingaidze, chief executive of Zifa, told the state-owned Herald newspaper: "Every player who was mentioned in the 'Asiagate' report, regardless of how many matches played, are suspended and will only be cleared by the ethics committee and, for now, they are not eligible for selection in any national duty commitments.
"We are saying everyone involved in Asiagate should step aside until the case has been finalised. There shouldn't be favouritism. We are not convicting them and we are not saying clubs should convict them as yet."Obviously this will affect Zimbabwe's performance in the short term but football has been riddled with corruption and that must be one of reasons why we haven't performed as well as we should."
The player suspensions are likely to affect Zimbabwe's bid to qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. Matches started in February, with Zimbabwe looking to lead the group to qualify.
The Herald reported that the 80 blacklisted players include:
- Ovidy Karuru
- Zhaimu Jambo
- Washington Arubi
- Daniel Vheremu
- Khama Billiat
- Gilbert Mapemba
- Willard Katsande
- Thomas Sweswe
- Method Mwanjali and Edward Sadomba.
The players are dispersed around the world. They can continue playing club football although a ban could be imposed by Fifa if they are found guilty by Zifa's ethics committee.Zimbabwe is already under investigation by the world football governing body.Its chief executive, Sepp Blatter, warned during a visit to Harare last year that players and officials found guilty of graft would face life bans.
It's sad for the players involved because they were just pawns in a wider political game. This is what happens when football and politics collide in a corrupt, autocratic regime.
EVERYwhere in the world there is a corruption and bribe, i believe this is not the only bribery that takes place in the field of soccer but it seems to be the first which came to be discovered.
ReplyDeleteThe worst ever because some of the players are fearing their careers and they might be banned in football for the rset of their lives.
DeleteThis players betrayed their own country, Zifa was fair in suspending them. I dont what made the players accept the bribes instead of standing up for their nation. FIFA should have punished the source of the bribe too.
ReplyDeleteIt aws not an easy thing to do for the players but looking on their econmic situation led them to accept the bribes.
DeleteI did not know that he was such corruption taking in football would you say that we also have he same problem in our country because Kazier Chiefs has been losing all it match for the past months don’t you think there could have been bribes involved.
ReplyDeleteCorruption is something that has been existing ever since and still to exist in the future....give players what they deserve they wont accept bribes.
DeleteI believe that the law should take its course, if the players are guilty then suspension is the right discipline. Players must know that soccer is a professional career abided by rules and regulations. They are creating a negative impact for their country.
ReplyDeleteTrue that and is a good thing taken by the association to suspend them.
Deletethe reason for many african countries are so poor is because of greedy and corruption
ReplyDeleteAgree with and if you give players peanuts,obvious expect such things to take place because they want o make a living.
DeleteSuspension is the only solution for people who are involved in corruption so that they will know what is legal and what is illegal.
ReplyDeleteWhat about banning them because is a bad reputation in heir careers together with their respctive country
DeleteThis is why FIFA calls for politics to not be involeved in football because it leats to things such as this scandal. It is sad to see the beautiful game subjected to such things. Hopefully more can be done in the future to eradicate things such as corruption and racism in football.
ReplyDeleteSerious action need to be taken to build a good reputation in the beautiful game
DeleteZimbabwe's matters are growing to being worse every day,it is not giving hope to its migrated citizens problem after another
ReplyDeletewhat zimbabwe did must b a lesson to other countries match fixing is not fair play i salute zim for suspending those who were found guilty
ReplyDeletewhat i like about FIFA they do follow ups in any cent of doutable issue @tsholofelo the lesson must be voice not only in soccer but in sports as whole
ReplyDeleteTrue that Khoza and that would make all sports respected as they are professionals.
Deletetjoh! 80 people? corruption and fraud is not in politics only but every where theres money. we can say "thumbs-up" to zimbabwe football assiciation to ensure that those who practice evilness get what they deserve.
ReplyDeleteIs Suspending 80 people the only solution to these fraud charges. How will this solve the problems that already exists.
ReplyDeletewow 80 people? but like doris said how will this help solve the problem?
ReplyDelete