adminOver the last couple of years, the football world has been rocked by massive scandals that saw a number of players from several countries sanctioned or even banned.
In the Republic of Korea, 41 players had their life bans endorsed by Fifa, three in Guatemala and one player from Nicaragua.
In Zimbabwe, more than 100 players were found guilty of match-fixing although some were later pardoned by the national association while others were slapped with sanctions ranging from six months suspensions to life bans.
Those banned for life but playing outside the country have however continued playing as the penalty has not been endorsed by Fifa amid concerns that Zifa bungled their investigations.
After the Asiagate scandal, Zifa was rocked by another embarrassing international scandal in the Ballon d’Or voting process for the World Player of the Year when a person still to be identified voted as Warriors coach Rahman Gumbo and his captains, Esrom Nyandoro and Tapuwa Kapini.
In an effort to arrest the cancerous scourge, Fifa decided to involve everyone in fighting the disease and last week, wrote to all its associations informing them of the latest move to fight the scourge.
In a communiqué from the football body’s secretary general, Jerome Valcke, written on 22 January and referenced;
Integrity Hotline and e-mail for reporting information on match-fixing and corruption Fifa acknowledged that match-fixing in football has reached unprecedented levels worldwide and advised that any form of approach or knowledge in connection with potential match-fixing must be reported immediately by telephone on +41800113388 (in English. French, Spanish or German) or e-mail, [email protected]. All information can be provided anonymously and will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
“The challenges facing football today in terms of match-fixing are absolutely unprecedented in global terms. Match-fixing and attempts to manipulate matches pose a considerable threat to the integrity of football as well as to the social, educational and cultural values embodied by sport in general.
“Fifa is taking a zero tolerance approach to match-fixing and is committed to protecting the integrity of football by all possible means,” said Fifa.
Fifa noted that with large profits to be made, match-fixing has become more and more attractive to international criminals, putting the reputation of sport itself at stake. The world football mother body said players are not the only people involved in match-fixing.
There have been several cases of betting-related manipulation involving referees, officials, sports managers and agents, in addition to people outside sporting circles.
“This is why it is vital that we receive your help. Those involved in organised crime attempt to contact parties who are able to influence the course of a match. The approach may occur in different ways, for instance through direct or indirect communication, by offering money or gifts through to threats or extortion,” said Fifa through its head of secretariat.
Efforts to contact Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze on why the national association did not make this information available to the public were fruitless as his mobile phone was not reachable.
Online Reporter