Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
On the back of long-term collaboration between the Asian Football Confederation, Sportradar Security Services and the Nepal Police, the Kathmandu Valley Metropolitan Police Crime Division arrested five Nepali players, former and current, linked to match-fixing this week.
Acting General Secretary of the Asian Football Confederation Dato’ Windsor John said: “The AFC adopts a zero tolerance policy towards match-fixing and a 360 degree view on the issue through a strategy of prevention, detection and response. These arrests show that the strategy is working. We applaud the Nepali Police for their reaction to the information and intelligence we have generated in partnership with Sportradar”.
Sportradar Managing Director Security Services Andreas Krannich said: “In the last few years our Fraud Detection System reports have been integral to over 100 arrests worldwide around match-fixing and manipulation so we are proud to see our reports and intelligence services continue to make a difference in countries that love and cherish sport. But our work is only as good as the stakeholders who receive the reports and intelligence. So we are even more proud of the commitment and work of the AFC and the Nepali Police. They have laid down a clear marker to all those passionate about Nepal and Asian football that match-fixing is taken seriously and those that want to perpetrate it will not go unpunished.”
The process leading to the arrests began when suspicious betting patterns were detected on a number of matches played by the Nepali national team. A year-long investigation followed, involving matches stretching back to 2008 with further intelligence gathering revealing suspicious financial transactions linked to Nepali nationals. The intelligence gathered was shared with the Nepali Police and a formal investigation began which has so far resulted in five arrests. The AFC will launch the appropriate disciplinary proceedings in due course.
Having led the arrests, Kathmandu Valley Metropolitan Police Senior Superintendent of Police, Crime Division Sarbendra Khanal said: “This is an important week in how Nepal presents its stance on match fixing. We extend our thanks to Sportradar and the Asian Football Confederation for the information and intelligence that they unearthed. We have worked tremendously well together to date and I am confident we can continue to work effectively going forward”.