Match-fixing in Goan football: Beautiful game shows its ugly side

PANAJI: In Goa’s football fields, away from the spotlight of live telecasts, another game is being played real time: Alleged match-fixing. The state sport, which held a pride of place for over 100 years, is now under the scanner as matches in the Goa Professional League have been identified for “suspicious betting patterns indicative of match manipulation”.
These matches involving lower-rung teams were played against some of the clubs that were household names among football fans and produced players who donned the India jersey.
London-based Sportsradar—a company that monitors betting odds, movements and patterns worldwide and counts Fifa among its clients—has now red-flagged six matches played over just a month in the Goa league last season.
Sportsradar identified these suspicious activities through a unique Fraud Detection System and brought it to the notice of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which in turn notified the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
AIFF’s integrity officer Javed Siraj, a former CBI officer, sought an explanation from the Goa Football Association (GFA) on the six matches played between October 16, 2019 and November 19, 2019. “The report prima facie indicates that the matches, detailed in the report, were fixed,” wrote Siraj.

The report said there was “clear and overwhelming betting evidence that the course or result of the match was unduly influenced with a view to gaining betting profits”.
For instance, Dempo Sports Club’s 4-0 victory over Calangute Association on November 1, 2019, has been cited as an example. The report said there was suspicious live betting for Calangute Association to lose the match and that too by at least three goals.
Sporting Clube de Goa’s 3-0 demolition of Panjim Footballers on November 12 has also been red-flagged since there was suspicious live betting for Panjim to lose the match by at least two goals, that later became three. There was also betting for at least three goals to be scored in total.
“It must be noted that Panjim Footballers conceded a penalty that was subsequently converted for the first goal of the match in the 48th minute,” said the report.
Other matches that have been reported include Dempo’s 4-0 victory over Guardian Angel Sports Club on November 12, another 1-2 defeat for Guardian Angel against FC Goa and a 4-0 hammering of Guardian Angel at the hands of Salgaocar FC.
“The betting evidence ultimately indicates that bettors held prior knowledge of Guardian Angel Sports Club losing the match by at least four goals,” said the report after they lost 0-4 against Salgaocar.
Only the first “highly suspicious” match on October 16, 2019, was an aberration, where there was live betting for Panjim Footballers to lose the match against Guardian Angel by at least two goals.
“Although the match ultimately ended 1-0 (in favour of Guardian Angel), rendering most of the highly suspicious betting unsuccessful, it does not make the betting patterns observed any less concerning,” the report said.
“Overall, there is substantial betting evidence that this match was unduly influenced with a view to gaining corrupt betting profits. However, this match represents a failed manipulation attempt,” it said.
Guardian Angel, which is involved in at least three of the six suspicious matches, dismissed the club was involved in match-fixing and said rather than pointing fingers at the club it was important to look at the role of referees too.
“We have complained so many times (against referees). They always favour big clubs. There were so many contentious decisions, particularly with offsides. The AIFF should record all games and see for themselves,” said club president Jhoncy Fernandes.
“There are rumours of many teams, I don’t know who are involved, but these things cannot happen with Guardian Angel. I know my coach, players and management very well. If anyone is found involved, strict action will be taken,” he said.
But Calangute Association president Alirio Lobo sensed “something was amiss” throughout the campaign. “I first thought allegations (of match fixing) was a joke, but later came to know that there was something happening,” said Lobo.
League leaders Sporting Clube, Dempo SC and Salgaocar FC said they were always expected to win these matches and did not find anything suspicious.