The risks of match-fixing to football in Oceania was highlighted at the recent INTERPOL Integrity in Sport – FIFA conference, co-hosted by the Oceania Football Confederation, Fiji Football Association and Fiji Police.
The two-day meeting, held in Fiji, brought together almost 100 regional football administrators, players’ associations, referees, football club owners, government agencies and police officials from 11 countries across the region.
OFC President David Chung believes the outcomes from the conference will have a profound effect on future-proofing Oceania football from harm.
“The conference imparted important knowledge for our member associations that will protect the integrity of our domestic and regional competitions from match-fixing.
“Football remains a very emotional game and its allure and attraction for those who do not have the sport’s best interests at heart means everyone must be vigilant,” he says.
For Fiji FA President Rajesh Patel it was a step in the right direction in terms of stamping out the epidemic, which has affected the game and its reputation around the world, before it takes hold in the Pacific.
“We in Oceania, and Fiji, are not prepared for it, but I think this workshop in Fiji was essential and gave us an eye opener and an insight into match-fixing,” Patel says.
“This is something really positive for all the Oceania countries, it’s something that may have been happening behind our backs, that we weren’t aware of, but we will definitely be taking a more proactive stand from now on.”
Patel says to his knowledge match-fixing is not an issue Fiji FA has had much experience of in the past, but believes it is important to be prepared, if and when, an incident arises.
“Something we were made aware of during the workshop is that amateur football leagues are where you will see illegal gamblers usually targeting because they can control it better,” he says.
“We should be trying to curb it before it comes to our shores. We’ve got to look at it proactively and make sure it doesn’t happen here in my country Fiji, or in any Oceania countries.”
Patel says the conference provided a forum for him and his staff to work closely with the Fiji Police Force, and he expects the two bodies will come to a Memorandum of Understanding as a result of discussions between himself and the Commissioner of Police.
He says the first step his organisation will take is to get its own regulations in order, before looking at the national laws and the punishments that might be handed down offenders should any match-fixing occur.
“We need to get our regulations in order and in place to make sure that if it happens, we are there to take action on the players, the coaches, or the referees – and ensure that individuals are prosecuted too.
“We really don’t know if it might have happened or might be happening. We may not have been aware of any match-fixing but now it’s been made clear how to detect it and report it.”
The INTERPOL Integrity in Sport – FIFA conference, co-hosted by the Oceania Football Confederation, Fiji Football Association and Fiji Police was held on 26 and 27 February in Fiji and was attended by officials representing 11 countries from around the Oceania region.
