Team Herald
PANJIM: Justice delayed is justice denied. It’s been nearly two years since the Goa Football Association was first rocked with the alleged match-manipulations when the AFC red-flagged six of the league games for possible match-fixing.
And now in April it was the second time, the media blew the news of possible match-fixing.
But what if you were told that it wasn’t the second time, but GFA were constantly warned by their integrity partner Genius Sports by red-flagging certain games in 2021 at least on two occasions in this league? Surprising, but that is the truth.
After the news was blown by the media in 2020, highlighting how the beautiful games were being affected due to match-manipulations which was brought to the association’s notice by the AFC. The Association instantly set-up a committee to investigate but till date no progress was made. Instead, COVID-19 was used as an excuse to tackle the situation.
Now once again, the Goa Football Association has acted swiftly in calling up for an executive committee meeting today to discuss issues related to the alleged match-fixing in the State league after their integrity partners submitted reports red-flagging six games in the month of March. The matches red-flagged feature teams mainly those who were later competing in the relegation league.
As per the sources at the State association, GFA was earlier by their integrity partner, not once but twice —once in December and before.
When contacted Jonathan D’Souza, who had been vocal about the issue and time and again raised the concern about the match-fixing at the meetings and even during the games confirmed the news and said, “It’s true. This isn’t the second time, but instead GFA were made aware earlier twice about the possible match-fixing. There were 3-4 games in December and if I may recollect there were additional two games, before that, but what has been done?,” questioned Jonathan.
“The ethics committee wakes up only when the media blows the news on match-fixing. Thanks to the media, they woke up once again, or else they wouldn’t have investigated this matter and Goan football would have suffered even more,” added Jonathan.
Jonathan claimed that for the last two years, the body has failed to investigate the matter and said, “They aren’t doing their job but blaming COVID-19. This is a shame as such a huge issue was covered under the COVID-19 blame. The first allegations came in 2020, and now we have played two leagues, and still they haven’t drawn any conclusions,” he lamented.
“They are doing this because it’s the (Executive Committee) election year. If they can’t do further investigation, the ethics committee should let us know during the meeting. We could give the matter to some competent authority who would work towards saving Goan football. Or else, Goan football will be gone,” added Jonathan.
