Exposure of match manipulators, betting syndicate, GFA to reward informants GH₵50,000
The Executive Council (ExCo) of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has said it will reward informants with GH₵50,000 for information that will lead to unmasking people engaged in match manipulation and betting.
Beyond the incentive, the FA has also sent a strong signal that it will punish any individual, player or match official found guilty of engaging in such conduct in order to stem out any corrupt practices in the game.
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The FA’s powerful body made the declaration after it was briefed about plans by the association to eradicate match manipulation among other acts prohibited in the FA’s Disciplinary Code and Code of Ethics.
“In addition to the plans, the Executive Council unanimously agreed to reward any individual who volunteers to give match manipulation information to the association a package of GH₵50,000 leading to the combating of match manipulation and betting,” the FA said in a statement.
The FA’s posture comes in the wake of reports of match manipulation, especially by betting syndicates operating with the connivance of some players, referees and club officials.
Already, the FA is still investigating suspected match manipulation from last season’s Premier League match involving Inter Allies and AshantiGold in Obuasi, following a post-match confession on radio by Inter Allies player, Hashmin Musah, that he scored two own goals to apparently foil a wager that had been placed on the match.
Quoting article 46 (1&2) of the Premier League statute, the GFA said it was a grievous offence for any participant of the league -- players, club officials, GFA officials, match officials, ball boys or clubs -- to engage in betting, failure to which comes severe punishment.
Subsequently, the FA has tasked its Compliance and Integrity Officer and the GFA prosecutors to continue working hard to “ensure that the game is raided off persons who violate the regulations in this respect”.
The ExCo also advised the FA’s judicial bodies to expedite adjudication on matters of that nature by dedicating more time and added that the financial reward was part of other plans adopted to protect the sanctity of the game.
