Integrity in sports update: match-fixing in Cameroonian and Ghanaian football
This has been a quiet week regarding integrity in sport related media articles. The Ghana Football Association Ethics Committee will be investigating allegations of match-fixing against a team manager who is denying any wrong doing. The allegations of match-fixing are being made by the football club President against his own team manager and involve two separate matches.
The decision made by the Italian Tennis Federation to ban two tennis players for life, which was reported on in last week's media recap, has generated much debate in the sport and media as a good practice and sanction. It is believed by naming and shaming match-fixers, it would contribute to tackling the problem and maintain the integrity of the sport.
CURRENT INVESTIGATION
Cameroon
The former president of Tonnerre Kalara Club (TKC) Yaoundé, Antoine Essomba Eyenga, has told the world during a televised interview on Canal 2 International that his club sold a match to Coton Sport of Garoua to help them win the League 1 championship in 2014. Antoine Essomba Eyenga who also served as director of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) said the match fixing arrangements were ordered by the leadership of the Cameroon Football Federation. Said the controversial Eyenga: "Coton was neck to neck with Racing of Baffoussam, they just needed a point". The match was played in Obala and the Federation gave the appointed match officials standing instructions to make sure Coton Sport get the point they badly needed.
The former Tonnerre chief executive who blatantly refused to reveal whether Tonnerre players were involved in the match fixing process, however indicated he was now making public the information because Coton Sport refused to return the favor the following season when Tonnerre were in trouble. In terms of the outcome of the said match counting for the 14th day of the Super League and played in December 2014, Coton Sport won with a score of 4 goals to 1.
Source: Ebong Peter, "Tonnerre Kalara football club and Coton Sport involve in match fixing scandal ", 10 August 2015, Cameroon Concord, https://cameroon-concord.com/news/sports-and-games/item/3763-tonnerre-kalara-football-club-and-coton-sport-involve-in-match-fixing-scandal
Ghana
President of Wa Africa united FC,Nana Kwabena Yiakwan II has accused his team manager Kofi Adams of fixing matches between Wa Africa United and Real Tamale United. Speaking to Agyenkwa FM in Techiman over the weekend, the controversial Nana Yiakwan said, "We lost to RTU by a lone goal in Damongo which is our home ground. I was reliably informed that my team manager took Monies from RTU in our GNBDOL match day 23 that was why I sacked him before our game against Tamale Utrecht". He did the same thing against Techiman City and I have reported it to the GFA. Meanwhile the team manager has denied all allegations levelled against him by the President. The Ghana Football Association Ethics committee will be meeting on Wednesday 12 August to investigate the allegations.
Source: John Kankam, "Kofi Adams in match fixing between Wa Africa United and RTU", 10 August 2015, Ghana Web, https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/soccer/Kofi-Adams-in-match-fixing-between-Wa-Africa-United-and-RTU-374124
Italy
Catania could be set for demotion to the Lega Pro for the 2015-16 season and deducted five points for their involvement in the latest match-fixing scandal. The Sicilian side has been under investigation after owner Antonino Pulvirenti confessed to attempting to fix five matches during the 2014-15 Serie B season in order to avoid relegation. FIGC prosecutor Stefano Palazzi publicly announced his recommendations on August 11 after a trial that also called for Pulvirenti to be banned from football for five years. The FIGC are still to decide whether to impose Palazzi’s recommendations or opt for different punishments. Former Catania forward Aldo Cantarutti has since claimed he is relieved by the sporting recommendation as he believes that it is a soft punishment. “It is a weak punishment so as a former player I am happy,” he told TuttoMercatoWeb. “Given that we are still just talking about requests from Palazzi, it is possible that the points penalty could be reduced. “Even with minus five points, the team surely still has the chance to have their say. The handicap is slight and with two wins they can get back in the running right away.”
Source: "Catania set for Lega Pro demotion after match-fixing ", 12 August 2015, Forza Italian Football Web, https://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/catania-set-for-lega-pro-demotion-after-match-fixing/
