HOME > NEWS > POLITICAL PRESSURE MOUNTS ON ZIFA OVER MATCH FIXING SCANDAL

Political pressure mounts on Zifa over match-fixing scandal

Political pressure mounts on Zifa over scandal

Posted: 2012-02-06 09:50

The Zimbabwean government is expecting Zifa to widen its net during an ongoing investigation into match-fixing allegations being levelled against national team players, coaches and the association’s officials.

So far the scandal has seen the arrest of former Zifa CEO Henrietta Rushwaya, who is now expected to be dragged before the courts this week for allegedly playing a leading role in ‘under-the-table’ deals that saw officials, coaches and players receiving huge sums of money in return for losing international matches played by the Warriors in Asia between 2007 and 2009.

Rushawaya, who is alleged to have made over R2-million for her central role in fixing the matches, has been questioned by police.

A committee led by a former Zimbabwe Supreme Court judge is also probing allegations that Kaizer Chiefs defender Thomas Sweswe raked in about R1.2-million after taking part in all the 15 matches that are in question, and that other players were given at least R77 600 per fixed match.

President Robert Mugabe, who met with Fifa president Sepp Blatter in Harare in 2010 shortly after the match-fixing allegations came to light, is said to be eagerly awaiting the outcome of the Zifa investigation.

Mugabe, who is known to attend football matches in Zimbabwe involving the national teams, promised Blatter that anyone found guilty would face the “full wrath of the law”.

Zimbabwe's Sports Minister, David Coltart, says Zifa must not be selective when punishing those found on the wrong side of the law. “The law must take its full course, without fear or favour.”

Zifa has complicated matters by not suspending the national team's assistant coach, Joey Antipas, despite the fact that he made statements admitting he received money from an Asian betting syndicate.

But the football association says it will, in time, also address the issue of coaches and officials who have been fingered in the scam.

“Zifa has only made a position on the players fingered in the Asiagate scandal,” Zifa CEO Jonathan Mashingaidze tells Zimbabwean media. “There is no position yet on officials but eventually there will be.

“We are not shielding anyone at all. We are going in a systematic way. We are playing Burundi at the end of February, which is not far off, that is why preparations have to start," adds Mashingaidze.

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givo: 2012-02-06 10:18

Good people these is simple ,mr sepp blatter should just ban al the parties involved and on a serious note , i hate chiefs so much that i want its players to be banned but also the asians who were giving money to the poor zims should be banned too , it is not suppose to be all about africa, why we did not hear anything about the asians, i smell a rotten chips from nyawana fish and chips. BUCS BY NATURE , HAPPY 75TH TO THE HAPPY FAMILY.

Jackiem: 2012-02-06 10:35

Dear Givo, your hate for chiefs, no problem with that, however this got nothing to do with Chiefs, is about Zim players one of them happed to play for chiefs, so next time when you comment, read the story and understand what is the story is about.

mike : 2012-02-06 10:54

Tlhabane u r an idiot,did chiefs say they love you? I want to see ur face, I don't think u can impress a woman, if u r married ur wife might be having terrible dreams.

lish: 2012-02-06 11:05

This thing of scandal will affect Zim players as whole, if they are to be ban, then Zim will start from Zero LIKE Zambia did while all their best players drown in the sea, this was a tragedy but Zim it is a shame and embarassment to the Southern African football

That is why we need COSAFA, change of management and COSAFA should be the one who is taking the lead here together with ZIFA, but we have not heard anything from the secretary and chairman...POLOOKAs

mr cool : 2012-02-06 12:15

Mugabe will sentence Sweswe big time 1,2million maybe a death penalty stru.... he must have wetted his pants already now that the cruel king has spoken kushubile..... happy 75 Anniversary 2 all the champs out there

Mukai: 2012-02-06 18:07

Rushawaya is ZANU PF. The Zim government 9read ZANU PF wing of it) is trying to create a sense of urgency but this is just a smokescreen. Her corruption has been an open secret for a long time and it is disingenous to pretend that they have just known. She has had the protection of the higher ups in the party and this is not going anywere in getting to the truth - expecially the unholy alliance between ZIFA and the political establishment.

bondocean: 2012-02-08 14:23

Feel for the players when the leaders of soccer in Zim are obviously so corrupt.