No regulation on betting

Malawi has no regulation restricting referees, players and coaches from betting, a development that puts the local game at risk of match fixing, Nation on Sunday can reveal.

This is despite world football governing body Fifa Code of Ethics taking a hard-line against those involved in match organisation from placing wagers either directly or indirectly.

For the past 10 years, Malawi has seen an influx of betting companies scrambling for the local market.

According to Sportradar, a company that monitors the integrity of sports events on behalf of sports associations, as many as 10 percent of the matches they monitor are likely to be fixed for betting reasons.

To reduce the risk, Fifa has taken a hard-line to combat the risk, binding all officials, namely referees, players as well as match agents and intermediaries from betting.

The regulations read in part: “They are forbidden from participating in, either directly or indirectly, betting, gambling, lotteries or similar events or transactions related to football matches or competitions and/ or any related football activities;

“They shall not have any interests, either directly or indirectly [through or in conjunct ion wi th third parties], in entities, companies, organisations, etc. that promote, broker, arrange or conduct betting, gambling, lotteries or similar events or transactions connected with football matches and competitions.”

Fifa members, including Football Association of Malawi (FAM), are also supposed to adopt the regulations.

The English FA has a worldwide ban on betting on football for all those involved in the games either directly or indirectly.

This also includes a worldwide ban on betting on any other football-related matter such as transfer of players, employment of managers or team selection.

FAM competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka admitted that currently there are no statutes. However the issue of betting has been of controversy since other quarters have argued that players have rights to entertainment and association such that if a player is in one jurisdiction and plays in another jurisdiction then there is no harm for them to indulge in betting as a social activity for them.”

He however, said the emphasis is on restricting their members from betting on local matches.

“As FPA our stand is that it is wrong for local players to indulge in betting for local football games at all levels because they would in one way or the other be capable of influencing results for personal gains,” he said.

Efforts to talk to Malawi Gaming and Lottories Board for comment were unsuccessful.

Malawi national football team was once a victim of match fixing for betting reasons.

Fifa investigation exposed that the Flames players fixed matches at Angola Afcon final in 2010 after being paid bribes by Wilson Perumal who operated a betting company.

Football analyst Charles Nyirenda said with more local matches available for betting, Football Association of Malawi and Super League of Malawi should introduce the restrictions.

He said: “In the past, the risk was not high since local matches were not available for punters.

“But now the risk is even greater with more betting companies introducing local matches on the wager.”

Popular betting companies are Premier Bet, Betika, Betway, World Star Betting, Super Pesa/Bet Yanga and Bet Pawa.

Betting companies have also utilised the power of football to market their products by sponsoring TNM Super League clubs.

So far, betting clubs sponsor Dedza Dynamos (Premier Bet), Mzuzu City Hammers (Betika) and Silver Strikers (Betway).