Fifa security chief jets in for three-day working visit

he will meet with key stakeholders over the Asiagate scandal
Eaton and the world body’s investigations officer, Terry Stean, are scheduled to touch down at Harare International Airport at 1pm after which they will debrief their hosts on their mission to the country.
Tomorrow, Eaton who is spearheading Fifa’s global fight against match-fixing and illegal betting, will then meet the Zifa investigating committee led by Ndumiso Gumede in the morning.

Gumede and his team, which includes board member finance Elliot Kasu, Eastern Region chairman Fungai Chihuri and board member competitions Benedict Moyo, compiled the Asaigate report, which has formed the basis upon which Zifa are trying to combat the scourge of match fixing.
Eaton and Stean will then take some time off to watch the high-profile Mbada Diamonds Cup first round derby clash between Dynamos and CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

On Monday, the Fifa duo will continue their tour of duty with a meeting in the morning with officials from the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture and the Sport and Recreation Commission. They will then proceed to hold talks with the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Ministry of Home Affairs representatives at the Police General Headquarters after which they will meet the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Eaton will once again have a debriefing indaba with Gumede’s probe team before ending his business trip with a media conference at a local hotel later in the day.

The Fifa head of security, who had kept Zifa guessing on his visit, which was originally pencilled in for June, this week also gave the biggest hint yet that players trapped in the web of match-fixing could get a reprieve by being sent for rehabilitation instead of being banned from the game. Eaton also reiterated Fifa’s determination to combat match-fixing and told Reuters that criminal gangs are making long-term investments in match-fixing as part of their infiltration of football.

Major match-fixing scandals have dominated the headlines over the summer in Italy, Greece and Turkey, while domestic football in Finland and South Korea has also been targeted, along with a handful of international friendlies. Eaton warned that gangs are purchasing clubs and organising referee training camps as part of their efforts.