Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) zero-tolerance approach to the manipulation of football matches in its jurisdiction was demonstrated when the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee banned four players for life.
Kursanbek Sheratov was banned from taking part in any football-related activities for life for violating Articles 66 and 69 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code. The Committee also banned three other players, Vladimir Verevkin, Iliaz Alimov and Abduaziz Mahkamov, from taking part in any football-related activities for life for violating Article 66 of the Code.
Sheratov, a national of the Kyrgyz Republic, was found guilty of being involved in a conspiracy to manipulate a match involving his club Dordoi FC (KGZ) in the 2017 season of the AFC Cup. He was also found guilty of supporting betting activity in connection with this match.
Verevkin and Alimov, also nationals of the Kyrgyz Republic, were found guilty of being involved in a conspiracy to manipulate match(es) involving their club FC Alay (KGZ) in the 2017 and/or 2018 season of the AFC Cup.
Mahkamov, a national of Tajikistan, was found guilty of being involved in a conspiracy to manipulate matches involving the same club, FC Alay (KGZ), in the 2017 and 2018 season of the AFC Cup.
The AFC put integrity at the heart of its Vision and Mission in 2016 and has demonstrated great leadership in its determination to stamp out attempts at match manipulation and to punish those who have been found to have taken part in such activities.
Several key measures, including the appointment of an Independent Head of Integrity, the engagement of Sportradar on integrity issues and also the introduction of an AFC Integrity App (available on Google Play and the App Store), have been brought in during the last few seasons to strengthen the AFC’s role in fighting match manipulation in Asia.