PANJIM: Match-fixing exists in Goan football and it’s not just rumour anymore! It was confirmed by the Goa Football Association on Monday.
Two years after Asian Football Confederation red flagged six Goa Professional League games for possible match-manipulation leading to match-fixing, the Goa Football Association president Churchill Alemao accepted it exists in Goa.
“Yes, match-fixing exists in Goa,” stated Alemao reacting to Herald TV’s Sports Talkies discussion on match-fixing in our previous episode where the experts raise eye-brows of possible fixing and match-manipulations which has affected the Goan football.
“Fixing exists and you can clearly make out. I want to know, how to stop match-fixing? I don’t know how to get this into control,” stated Alemao.
He also welcomed Padma Shri and Indian football legend Brahamanand Sankhwalkar and other experts from Goa to set up an inquiry or to curb this menace. “I am open to take advice if this can be stopped and the culprits are caught. I want this to end,” Alemao said.
Surprisingly, AFC had red flagged six games in 2020 indicating possible match-fixing in the State, however, the Goa Football Association investigation led to nowhere. The league continued, and there were no further investigations carried out.
It’s rather surprising to note that Alemao, who also owns Churchill Brothers FC Goa, had experienced a probable match-manipulation with his own team this season where his team, which was leading 2-0 at the first half, conceded thrice in the second half against a lower-ranked team. However, rather than setting up an inquiry, the patron suspended a few players from his team.
“We were leading by two goals against Velsao. Our players had plenty of chances which they didn’t convert. In the second half, the opponents equalised 2-2. With a few minutes to go, my nephew received a text which said Velsao would score a goal, and they did score. I was shocked,” stated Alemao and added, “I have suspended four players of which one was suspended for other reasons.”
Earlier, in 2020, Herald had highlighted how Goan football was affected with betting and match-fixing scams.
