Match-fixing is a vice which has been affecting many sporting activities in the world aimed at giving unfair gains to individuals. This is rampant, especially during this era where gambling is more widespread and appealing to those who appreciate it. It is not as easy as people might be thinking for any individual to fix a match whether directly or indirectly.
There are players who were suspended by the Football Kenya Federation in Kenya for having been involved in match manipulation, the majority of them former Zoo Fc players. A few years ago, some match officials were also suspended after being found guilty of involvement in match manipulation.
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Internationally, Juventus were once relegated to the second tier league in the Italian football league for what was a major match-fixing scandal in the Italian Serie A famously known as Calciopoli (2006) The saga involved Luciano Moggi as the mastermind and facilitator of match manipulation in Italy. He was even jailed after he was found guilty of the offence.
Many athletes have been vindicated of match manipulation and their names have been tainted with negative reputations over match-fixing. They end up losing their career because of their involvement in such dubious acts. Relevant authorities in Africa and across the globe should investigate any suspected form of match manipulation so that only those found culpable are taken into account. This shouldn’t be an issue of rushing into making any form of judgement. This will ensure that sanity is brought back to football.
People who are majorly involved in match manipulation are the match officials, players, coaches, and match manipulators who are very wealthy. They are willing to use millions in order to have a sport, in general, go their way by bribing the actual perpetrators of the said manipulation.
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Recently, there are mistakes that have been witnessed in many sporting activities which are normal for any individual who is an athlete. An athlete might prepare well for a certain event with devoted assistance from his coach and the technical staff in order for them to get positive results. Some mistakes, which have been happening on the pitch are now believed to be manipulation in order to achieve a certain outcome.
I am not advocating for match manipulation in the name of mistakes. All I am advocating is that we should distinguish between mistakes and manipulation so that we have a fairground to make judgements. If found guilty, then the perpetrators should face the consequence as stipulated by the law. Legislatures in all countries globally should also save the sports industry in Kenya by passing laws related to match manipulation. Sadly, I am aware that there are no laws guiding the same in the Kenyan constitution.
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Most people are now blinded by the fact that athletes are now hiding their mistakes to facilitate match manipulation. As human beings, anything can happen and it might be a very bad day in the office for an individual which might result in a mistake.
The fans and those who are now actively involved in gambling are the ones who are raising voices of manipulation. This is because gambling has become the order of the day for them in such a way that they do not believe that players are prone to mistakes and that they believe it’s match manipulation. This notion has made them believe that the matches are always predetermined by certain individuals, especially in the Kenyan Premier League.
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