Ugandan football authorities have taken a strong stance against match-fixing, uncovering a syndicate and banning 13 individuals, including 10 referees, a player, and two administrators.
Unearthing the Scheme:
- Fufa, Uganda’s football federation, launched an anti-match-fixing campaign in March 2023.
- With the help of FIFA and sports data company Sportradar, Fufa identified suspicious betting patterns on seven games between October and December 2023, primarily in the second divisions.
- Investigations revealed a South African-led syndicate targeting lower leagues due to less scrutiny.
Key Figures:
- Hilfiger Mutyaba, an ex-convict, is accused of leading the syndicate with Ugandan accomplices. Mutyaba allegedly recruited referee Kaddu Ali to approach players, officials, and referees.
- Charles Twine, a member of Fufa’s investigatory chamber, stated they have “incontrovertible” evidence and consider it a “criminal syndicate” linked to corruption, money laundering, and organized crime.
Consequences and Next Steps:
- The 13 individuals received provisional 90-day bans from Fufa, with the possibility of longer suspensions after a hearing.
- They have the right to appeal to Fufa or the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
- Additionally, they could face criminal charges under Uganda’s new anti-match-fixing legislation.
Looking Forward:
- Fufa is committed to eradicating match-fixing from Ugandan football and calls for collective action from all stakeholders, including media, fans, administrators, and players.
- This crackdown comes after a previous major scandal in 2003 and highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Ugandan football.
Additional Notes:
- In a separate action, FIFA imposed five-year bans on five Ugandan players and ten-year bans on two referees linked to match-fixing.
This rewrite condenses the article while maintaining key details.
