Match fixing scandal: DC reveals measures Ghana FA must to take clamp down on betting

Published on: 16 May 2022

The Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association has outlined measures to help fight betting in the Ghana Premier League. 

Ghana's football was hit with another scandal after Ashantigold and Inter Allies were found guilty of match manipulation.

In a statement released by the Ghana Football Association, the Disciplinary Committee provided the following recommendations to fight match fixing.

a. Since match fixing is complicated and may involve many people particularly in this instant case and where the combination of investigations and adjudication may take some time and the league cannot be stayed and or put it on hold, the Committee recommends that under such circumstances all the teams involved and all players and persons involved or named in the investigation MUST be injuncted from participating in any football related activities pending the final determination of the matter.

This is a method that can ensure the promotion of integrity and equal opportunity for all competitors and also constitute the fight against corruption in football in Ghana. In addition, International Transfer Certificates (ITC) must not be issued to players and or officials cited in ongoing cases of match fixing or match manipulation.

  1. Referees and Match Commissioners MUST be encouraged to report obvious and suspicious behavior on the field of play since their reports unravel aspects of fixing or manipulation which are difficult to unravel by ordinary investigations. On the contrary when such obvious and suspicious behaviors on and off the field of play go unreported by referees and match commissioners, and match fixing or manipulation is occasioned, they must be included as collaborators or fixers of matches.

For instance, failing to report obvious, deliberate and unsporting conduct such as deliberate own goal(s), lackadaisical attitudes. Such officers must also be a subject of investigations.

  1. In addition to GFA Disciplinary sanctions, match fixing or manipulation MUST be made a criminal offence, and anybody natural found to be involved be arrested and prosecuted with the possibility of prison sentence.
  2. Every club official, player and or participant in football should mandatorily sign the Integrity Declaration Form and deposit it at the Integrity office of the GFA on or before the commencement of any league season to ensure the strict liability rule.
  3. The GFA must strengthen the Compliance & Integrity Office to enable it monitor both manipulation and illegal betting systems in Ghana.
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