Ebrahim clarifies Independent Ethics Committee task

individuals who were fingered in the matter.
Retired Supreme Court, Justice Ebrahim, who chairs the committee revealed, that although they had begun formal hearings from players, coaches and officials who were part of the Warriors trips to Asia, their proceedings should not be misconstrued to mean that the individuals were under trial.
Ebrahim is today expected to name 30 players whom his committee believe should be cleared from match-fixing allegations.
“A great deal of preliminary investigation has had to be completed before the committee could even begin its hearings.
“This process has been underway for some time but is not yet complete. Almost 100 players and officials face scrutiny.
“Statements have been recorded from many of them so far. Some of the others (players) have not been co-operative while others are out of the country, mainly in South Africa.
“The committee decided, however, to begin the formal hearings although it may not be possible to conclude them until statements have been recorded from all those willing to co-operate,’’ Ebrahim said.
Ebrahim said both his committee and Zifa’s counsel would have to decide “which of the players and officials should be invited to give oral evidence.
“It is likely that many of the statements will be put in evidence without calling the persons who made them.
“Those players and officials who are called to give evidence in person will be entitled to legal representation (at their own expense) should they so wish’’.
Crucially though is the fact that Ebrahim and his committee which is made up of top lawyers, a private investigator, a retired police commissioner and seasoned sports administrators was not conducting a public trial.
“We wish to point out that the proceedings are not a trial. There are, initially no accused persons.
“The proceedings are an investigation at the end of which the committee may be able to find that there is evidence that particular individuals have been guilty of match-fixing or any other offences listed in the Fifa disciplinary code.
“The committee is required to recommend appropriate sanctions. The final decision as to guilt and punishment will rest with Zifa and Fifa’’.
Ebrahim said his committee was also convinced that Fifa and Zifa statutes had been violated during the infamous trips.
“Having read the final report on games played by Zimbabwe national teams in Asia and other countries and other accompanying documents, the following comments are pertinent:
l There have obviously been some transgressions of Fifa and Zifa rules, regulations and disciplinary codes and even local statutes and or other national laws by some players and/or officials whilst on tour playing games representing Zimbabwe .
l The throwing of matches/ match fixing and any acts undertaken by players/ officials in order to achieve this under any circumstances is totally unacceptable and intolerable in any country and any rules, regulations and disciplinary codes and all players and officials involved must be brought to justice even it means facing trial in the criminal courts of Zimbabwe or of the country in which they played games against the host team.
l From the evidence which has been brought before Zifa so far there is little doubt that transgressions have been effected against certainly Zifa rules and regulations and disciplinary codes, possibly Fifa rules, regulations and disciplinary codes and certainly corruption which is a chargeable transgression or offence in the criminal courts.
l The evidence given either in person in front of the match-fixing (Asiagate) investigating committee or by submissions of written statements clearly shows some transgressions have occurred.
However in order to take the matter further and hopefully to find a final and successful conclusion, all witnesses players and offcials alike who have been perhaps brave enough to come forward and give their version what they did and or heard will have to be interviewed and affidavits recorded in greater details from them,’’ Ebrahim said.