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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
WORLD football governing body Fifa says it never contracted chief trans-Limpopo match-fixing accused Henrietta Rushwaya to penetrate the betting underworld.
Rushwaya had claimed that her involvement in the match-fixing scandal was part of a Fifa sting operation aimed at busting the match-fixing gangsters.
She said the syndicate asked her to help them infiltrate the South African Premiership where they were going to use Zimbabwean players to fix matches as a dry run for targeting the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil and she notified former Fifa investigator Terry Steans.
Rushwaya claims Steans told her to talk to the match-fixers and keep a record of what was happening.
However, Steans has since distanced himself from the former Zifa CEO’s shenanigans saying he advised her to inform the authorities.
In an emailed response to Chronicle Sport’s inquiries about Rushwaya’s alleged involvement with Fifa, the world body said it only works with respective public authorities and other sports organisations on a national, regional and global level to tackle the issue of match manipulation.
Fifa said Rushwaya has never been their point person in combating manipulation of matches.
“In relation to your query, the individual (Rushwaya) you mention has never worked for Fifa Security or as a Fifa investigator. The integrity of the game is a top priority for Fifa and we work closely with law enforcement agencies as well as the respective public authorities and other sports organisations on a national, regional and global level to tackle the issue of match manipulation,” Fifa said yesterday.
The football governing body said match manipulation is a threat that undermines the integrity and credibility of soccer at different levels of the game.
“Fifa has a zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation and is committed to protecting the integrity of football by all means necessary.
Fifa has developed a wide range of measures and initiatives to support the international football community in its efforts to protect the integrity of the game. The Fifa Security Division continues to develop and co-ordinate Fifa’s initiatives to tackle and combat match manipulation,” Fifa said.
The latest match-fixing expose has resulted in the Philip Chiyangwa-led Zifa executive committee suspending board member responsible for development Edzai Kasinauyo and sacking Warriors’ assistant coach Nation Dube. Zifa has also ordered Hwange FC to suspend Dube until he clears his name.
Former national team coach Ian Gorowa has also been implicated in the cross-border scandal that is threatening to throw the game in Zimbabwe and South Africa into turmoil.
Meanwhile, the South African Premier Soccer League has preferred charges against persons named in the scandal and have set March 30 as the hearing date for disciplinary purposes.
Six players plying their trade in the Absa Premiership have been named, including three Zimbabwean players, George Chigova, Washington Arubi and Partson Jaure.
The South African Premier Soccer League released a statement on Tuesday night stating that they had been provided with information alleging certain players and officials registered with the league were involved in match-fixing and corruption.
Online Reporter