Zimbabwe Football Association Submits Report on Asian Match-Fixing to Police
The 162-page document identifies players, managers, coaches, reporters and technical staff alleged to have taken bribes
ZIFA Chief Executive Jonathan Mashingaidze said FIFA advised his organization to give the report to the police before imposing suspensions, bans or other sports administrative penalties The Zimbabwe Football Association has handed its report on the "Asiagate" match fixing scandal to sports authorities including the International Federation of Association Football as well as the Zimbabwe police for further investigation and to determine penalties for national team members and officials accused of throwing games from 2007 to 2010. The report also went to Zimbabwe's Ministry of Sports and the Sports and Recreation Commission and the Confederation of African Football. The 162-page document identifies players, managers, coaches, reporters and technical staff alleged to have taken bribes from Asian bookmakers and others during such trips. ZIFA Chief Executive Jonathan Mashingaidze said FIFA advised his organization to give the report to the police before imposing any administrative penalties. "We are hoping the police will carry out further investigations accordingly and their recommendations are forwarded to relevant authorities so that FIFA disciplinary code Article 62 will be used on those found guilty,"said Mashingaidze. London-based Singaporean Wilson Raj Perumal, arrested in February, has been named as the main contact person in the organization of the corrupt matches. FIFA President Sepp Blatter on a one day visit to Zimbabwe last week said those found guilty of match-fixing will be banned from the sport for for life. But other bodies are calling for more lenient rulings so that those who participated in the fixing of matches under duress will receive appropriate penalties. ZIFA Vice President Ndumiso Gumede led the probe team that also included board members Elliot Kasu, Fungai Chihuri and Benedict Moyo. ZIFA's former chief executive officer, Henrietta Rushwaya, accused of playing a key role in the match-fixing, was removed from her position last year for organizing the trips to Asia without the permission of the sporting organization's board. ZIFA chief Mashingaidze said decisions on the fate of those alleged to have taken part in the scandal will only be taken once further investigations are complete.