GFA set to conduct investigation over betting charges in Goa Pro League

A five-Member investigative panel is likely to be appointed, headed by a retired Judge, lawyers and others.

The AIFF has asked the GFA to conduct an investigation on the red flagged matches of Goa Pro League involving seven teams concerning six league matches held from 16th October to 19 November2019. Mr.Churchill Alemao, GFA President stated that the AFC Report itself states that there “was suspicious betting patterns indicative of match-manipulation.”

Mr. Alemao pointed out that the AFC Report in all six Goa Pro League matches highlighted that “there was a highly suspicious live betting, there being substantial betting evidence that the outcome of the matches were unduly influenced with a view to gaining corrupt betting profits. In some matches it was a failed manipulation attempt,” the report added.

The preliminary conclusion of the AFC Report states: “There is clear and overwhelming betting evidence that the course or result of the matches were unduly influenced with a view to gaining corrupt betting profits.”

Consequently, Mr. Alemao stressed that an investigation will be undertaken in this case of “suspicious match fixing” based on “suspicious betting patterns”. As such, the need to give an authentic picture that there is suspicion. The five-Member investigative panel is likely to be headed by a Retired Judge and will comprise lawyers and others.

Sports Radar is a London based company that tracks all bets placed on sports events around the world, using a monitoring software. There are instances where bets are placed on events in a match like yellow cards, red cards, goals scored, goals conceded, match result. In many countries abroad this is completely legal. In India , betting is illegal.

The Sports Radar concludes that due to this suspicious betting pattern, it indicates fixing. A report is then sent to AFC/AIFF showing red flags. It is only after the findings of the inquiry it is established whether the match was fixed or not.

In the case of Goa Pro League, the AFC suggested that there is evidence of suspicious betting pattern which indicates fixing, there being no proof as yet to establish that match fixing actually took place.

ALSO READ: Analysis: FC Goa’s proposal to revamp Goa Professional League

Meanwhile, Churchill Brothers Sports Club has arranged the sponsorship for Goa Pro League (GPL) through Accord Sports Inc for three years – Rs. 25 Lakhs for 2020-21, Rs.30 Lakhs for 2021-22 and Rs. 40 Lakhs for 2021-22 with TV, Satellite, Cable, digital coverage, billboards, merchandising, fanzones, screening, branding, etc.

The Sponsorship has been arranged by Mr. Churchill Alemao, President of Churchill Brothers Sports Club and Churchill Brothers Sports Club, CEO , Ms. Valanka Alemao with the help of Kolkata’s Ms . Deepa Das Munshi, wife of former late AIFF President Mr. P . Das Munshi.

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