January 23 – Reports of a Malaysian gambling syndicate approaching I-League club Munbai FC have prompted the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to move towards setting up an anti-corruption unit.
Speaking at an Integrity in Sport workshop organised by FIFA and Interpol in New Delhi last week, Mumbai FC official Atul Bagdamia said he had been approached and offered sponsorship for his team to play a series of friendly matches in Malaysia.
When the conversation turned to match-fixing in the club’s domestic I-League, Bagdamia ended discussions.
Bagdamia did not report the incident to the AIFF as he said he felt that the conversation had ended the matter.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) vice president Subrata Dutta told the Times of India that the incident is of a genuine concern, even though no damage has been done.
“I have proposed the AIFF should have an anti-corruption unit headed by an integrity officer. The executive committee will discuss and decide on it. All clubs have been told to recognise, resist and report such approaches,” said Dutta.
The AIFF has informed clubs it will appoint an integrity officer in the (anti-corruption) unit who will be the first point of contact for match-fixing concerns.
Other than lotteries,legal gambling in India is limited to betting on horse racing. Public bookmaking or the running of a ‘public gaming house’ is illegal. But illegal betting is thriving in India with the activity is estimated to be worth $30 billion annually.
The Indian Premier League’s Twenty20 cricket tournament – the world’s highest and best supported league – was hit by a spot-fixing controversy last year that led to life bans on three cricketers, including former Test bowler Shantakumaran Sreesanth.
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