Football fraud: Rather than venting behind closed doors, Expose it
Thuso Palai | Wednesday March 26, 2014 11:46
Over the past few weeks, there have been accusations and suggestions that some matches have been fixed, or some officials are helping some teams to get results. The other week, some teams, that are sitting precariously at the bottom positions won games scoring an avalanche of goals in their games, and there were ‘stories’ of cheating. For purposes of this piece, I will call them ‘stories’ as they remain unsubstantiated.
At the top half, some teams have benefitted from the rub of the green and got a favourable decision here and there and once again ‘stories’ came out that they were ‘buying’ results. Unfortunately I’m not party to such allegations, atleast until they are proven, and I sometimes feel that our frustrations as football supporters have the better of us and we make up ‘stories’. I might be wrong: but I feel that if someone has genuine suspicions that some matches have been fixed or the BPL or officials are conniving with some teams to fix results, then they should speak up and present some evidence.
Ranting and venting in the media will not help the situation but can only exacerbate HATE and ANIMOSITY, among the supporters, officials and administrators. By ranting on radio, we come across as bitter souls. The best way to expose the ‘Fraud’ is to report any wrongdoing and expose it rather than make unsubstantiated accusations and hide behind closed doors. I’m of the view that if one makes allegations of some sort against another party, they should do so through the right channels and present evidence to back it up.
This will get us somewhere in combatting the ‘problem’ if indeed it does exist. I would understand if it’s us supporters who peddle rumours of possible wrongdoing and not back it up, but it’s a different ball game altogether if it is officials of other teams. I would expect a responsible official to expose and back up their allegations so that the matter is looked into with a view to combatting it once and for all. Remember: Match fixing has strong repercussions which include being banned from Football for life. By not coming out and speaking up, with evidence, I tend to doubt those who make the allegations and their motives thereof. I know its difficult to prove wrongdoing but from what I have heard, it seems like some people have heard something and know something, but they are chicken to speak out in official forums, where their allegations will be put under scrutiny.
As a football follower I abhor match fixing and naturally I would want anyone who has proof of match fixing to stand up and make that available so the perpetrators are brought to book. Making allegations and then not backing them up is as bad as being part to that match fixing. To all those who might have some shred of evidence to prove any wrongdoing on the part of any team, official or administrator should speak up NOW, Otherwise I would take these allegations as sour grapes.
If you have proof to back up match fixing allegations, don’t be chicken, come out and let’s pin the perpetrators. If you don’t have any proof, don’t make hollow allegations. I’m not for one second disputing or agreeing that there might be some untoward behaviour, but if there is: let’s be brave enough to come out and point out the perpetrators. Until we do that, I will take all this accusations flying around as mere hot air being blown by bitter souls.