Vietnam vows to tackle match-fixing, corruption in football

Vissai Ninh Binh players stand trial for matchfixing on Angust 25, 2014. Photo: Dinh Dung

The Vietnam Football Federation has pledged to set up a transparency task force to tackle match fixing and corruption that remains a major concern in the sport.

“The task force will coordinate closely with security agencies for rapid actions against corruption in football,” said VFF general secretary Le Hoai Anh.

Anh was speaking at the country’s first Partnership Development Meeting on Tackling Match Fixing and Corruption in Football held by FIFA, Interpol and relevant Vietnamese agencies.

He said VFF has coordinated well with FIFA, AFC and the Ministry of Public Security to disclose corruption cases.

“Ninh Binh and Dong Nai players have been arrested and investigated for their allegedly involvement in match fixing,” he said.

At the meeting, Norris Julie Therese of Interpol’s Integrity Unit said that match-fixing has been complicated in international football, which involves not only bookmakers but also organized criminal networks.

Besides FIFA, AFC and VFF, it requires the participation of local law enforcement agencies to clarify corruption allegations, she said.

According to Therese, a total of 79 foreign firms accept betting on football matches in Vietnam.

Football betting is illegal in Vietnam.

In 2013, a draft decree proposing legalizing betting on international football matches has prompted controversies. It has not been approved so far.

Nicholas Raudenski of FIFA’s Transparency Task Force, said bookmakers make a lot of money after each round and the money can be used for match-fixing.

Many international referees and players have been paid to manipulate the games, he said.

He said many betting networks have become organized criminal gangs that corrupted the world’s football and tackling corruption has to be done globally.

Vietnam’s football is developing and threats of match-fixing and corruption in the country remain a concern of FIFA, he said.

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