By Andrew Warshaw
October 31 – FIFA has imposed global bans on four players and a coach from Australia’s Southern Stars Victorian Premier League side in an escalation of the most serious match-fixing scandal to hit the country.
The five individuals – all four players are English – are barred from taking part in any football-related activity until further notice following a similar Australian ban handed down last week while a court case is ongoing.
Reiss Noel, Joe Woolley, David Obaze and Nicholas McKoy as well as coach Zia Younan were arrested by Victorian police for allegedly taking part in rigging five matches involving the Melbourne-based provincial league side and were granted bail last month.
They are alleged to have worked with a match-fixing syndicate that generated more than $2 million in winnings. Segaran ‘Gerry’ Gsubramaniam, a Malaysian citizen described as the middle man between the Southern Stars and Asian betting syndicates, was also charged but refused bail. All six men are due to re-appear in court on December 6.
“FIFA continues to work closely with its member associations and the confederations to tackle match manipulation,” FIFA said in a statement.
FIFA said its sanctions will apply until those concerned are convicted of a criminal offence. If acquitted, the bans will apply until December 31, 2015 – or earlier, if they are reduced by the Australian federation.
If found guilty, those concerned could face up to 10 years in jail under strict new match-fixing laws introduced in Australia in April.
The masterminds of the Asian matchfixing epidemic routinely choose minor, little-known leagues to work their scams. Southern Stars play in the 12-team second-tier Victorian Premier League and the allegations relate to a run of four games in which they conceded 13 goals without replying.
The four players were all in English non-league football before moving Down Under. Three of them – Woolley, Noel and McKoy – joined from Hornchurch in England’s Conference South division.
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