Match Fixing: A monster beyond tackle?

 DigitalSENSE Business News:

 THE monster of match fixing in football is fast becoming an invincible hydra headed demon defying every tackle. We did treat this topic some time last year. One would have taken the issue as tackled and settled but like the herculean dragon, it has continued to rear breed new head in replacement of the one just cut off. Other problems have always been tackled and solved almost as soon as they surface but to date, match fixing has remained a kind of incurable cancer afflicting the administration of the round leather game worldwide. We thought it worthwhile to discuss the issue again as the year 2013 winds up and a new year dawns in, perhaps  those usually involved in the nauseating scandal might list the habit as topmost in their New Year resolution of don’t do.
Match fixing is arranging in advance of the outcome of a football match or event within the match, usually for the purpose of making money often from betting. Match fixing occurs as a match is played to a completely partially pre-determined results, violating the rules of the game along the way. The major reasons for fixing a match are gambling and future team advantage. Match fixing does not necessarily involve deliberately losing a match. Occasionally, teams have been accused of deliberately playing for a draw. It is not only players that are found guilty of fixing a match, coaches and other team officials have been found guilty in the past.
Recently, a British tabloid, The Sun on Sunday ,released a footage of former Nigeria international and ex Reading, Westbrom, Leeds, Wattford and Portsmouth defender Samuel  Sodje, who was filmed secretly by the newspaper with a pictorial tender of  how the he punched an opponent in the league-one game to get a red card allegedly in exchange for £70,000.  The incident allegedly occurred when the young Nigerian was playing for Portsmouth against Oldham Athletic in February this year, Sodje earned himself a bizarre red card when he reportedly punched Oldham Athlethics’ Jose Baxter in the groin for no apparent reason. He also confessed that he arranged for another player to be paid 30,000 pounds sterling for getting a yellow card in the championship match. Since then, six men have been arrested by the National Crime Agency NCA) including Blackburn Rovers Striker DJ Campbell.
Did match fixing start with Sodje? No, it didn’t. Match fixing has been part of the grassroots’ problem facing football. We all know that in any football tournament, final group matches are played simultaneously across the group. The world football governing body (FIFA) didn’t wake up one day and decided to introduce this rule.
 In 1982, FIFA World Cup in Spain, West Germany played Austria in the last group match of group B. A West Germany victory by 1 or 2 goals would result in both teams advancing, and less West Germany was out, and more Austria was out and replaced by Algeria who had beaten Chile.
West Germany attacked and scored after 10 minutes. Afterwards the players then proceeded to just kicking the ball around aimlessly for the remainder of the match. Algerians felt hard done, while a German fan burned his German flag in disgust. FIFA changed its tournament scheduling for subsequent World Cups so that the final pair in each group is played simultaneously.
In China, 33 players and officials were banned for life and 12 clubs penalised after they were find guilty of fixing a football match. The Shanghai Shenua Club were fined £100,000 last year and were stripped of their 2003 league title for rigging a game. In July 2012 Turkish State Court sentenced Aziz Yildrum, the chairman of Fernabache Football Club, to three years and nine months in jail for match fixing and two years and six months for forming an illegal organization.  But he was released on bail pending appeal.
In July this year, four Nigerian clubs were suspended for match-fixing after 79-0 win, the National Football Federation placed indefinite suspension on four clubs after their promotion play-offs ended in outrageous scoreline. This is not the first time Nigeria will be dragged into match fixing, Argentina 4 -1 defeat  to Nigeria back in 2011 was investigated by FIFA for possible match fixing after a controversial penalty was awarded for Argentina in the 96th minute after four minutes added time had already been played.
In the summer of 2006, Italy was rocked by a sporting scandal that ran deep, and through some of its biggest soccer clubs. Calcioplihas, it was popular referred to in Italy, implicated clubs like Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina Lazio and Regina after it was revealed that they were selecting favourable referees for Serie A matches in 2004/2005 season. Juventus was stripped of their2005 and 2006 Scudetto and relegated to Serie B in addition to nine points deduction. And their then President Lucciano Moggi was slammed with a life ban from football.
Many people have been arrested for taking part in match fixing while a number of players and officials have been banned. Investigation in hundred of countries has involved hundred of players and officials revealing the problem that is threatening the integrity of our beloved game. 
Sodje and his cohorts case is another sign that match fixing in soccer –the world’s most popular sport- is getting out of control. How many wake-up call does football governing bodies need?  Yes, footballers and other official are not criminals, but this crime is punished by a very soft sentence. Sodje was fined £10,000 and was slammed with three matches suspension, ergo he walked away with £60,000. In Turkey, Aziz Yildrum was re-elected as the Fernabache’s president. What a joke?  Juventus got nine points deduction and a year in Serie B. Was that enough? No, it isn’t if you ask me. The punishment has to be a lot severe than that.
So, where do we stand? What can be done? There is no doubt that football governing bodies have to find a way to regulate the behaviour of players, coaches, referees and other officials. Can everyone be filmed secretly ? No, can everyone’s phone be tapped? No, that is impossible but the governing bodies need to ensure there’s no foul play. FIFA and UEFA made hundreds of millions of pounds every year on football, I see no reason for them not to spend a large sum out of it on something that has tainted the integrity of the game. The governing bodies need to invest heavily on their anti-corruption task forces and make sure they have the resources and the power to investigate the relationship between people in the game and the betting syndicates and organised crime gangs.
Finally the football that we know and came to love for years should be real, competitive and honest, not a ‘staged’ show. As a very concerned football lover, I urge FIFA to intervene more and introduce serious consequence for people who have been caught for fixing a football match. Why can’t FIFA reinstate the punishment of life ban? Whoever is involved in this match fixing and is ever charged, should get life ban. FIFA should not care if such person is a top manager or top footballer, they deserve to be got rid of. Club involved should also be relegated to the lowest division in that country. These forms of punishment will send a strong message to those that are tarring the image of the game we love. Life ban is the only way to go, except if the governing bodies are thinking of introducing a more severe punishment.


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