‘This is something beyond our control’
Match-fixing in Bangladesh's domestic football is nothing new, something that keeps rearing its ugly head almost every season. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Kazi Salahuddin shared his stance regarding the aforementioned conundrum during an exclusive interview with The Daily Star's Anisur Rahman, the excerpts of which are as follows:
The Daily Star (DS): As BFF president, how do you feel when you hear about match fixing allegations in the domestic circuit?
Kazi Salahuddin (KS): It's a very sad story for me. But remember, we took action against such things last year. Match fixing has been stopped in BPL [Bangladesh Premier League] but it resurfaced in BCL [Bangladesh Championship League]. You may write about match fixing allegations in newspapers but I need evidence to punish them. We have already formed a committee to investigate the matter.
DS: There are whispers that the match fixing allegation came against those clubs who hardly have any background but got permission to play the BCL directly. What will you say about it?
KS: What the idea we have is to allow the financially and technically strong teams into BCL because some of the clubs fail to provide money for the players' meals even. So, if the probe committee finds the accused guilty, then there is a big possibility of suspending BCL for two years. Then, we would start the league afresh through the AFC licensing process.
DS: There has been no evidence of referees and match commissioner mentioning anything in their match reports when it comes to a probable fixing incident. What do you say about it?
KS: I have sat with them [officials] five to six times. I told them that if you don't mention it to the reports, I can't punish anybody. The reports must come from you. If you are afraid to report, then you don't need to officiate the match. We have paid them Tk 8 crore till now. I think the BFF should stick to the process but to be honest, this is something beyond our control.
DS: There is also an allegation that BFF doesn't take any initiatives until the media make reports on match-fixing. What's your take on that?
KS: That is not right. We do many things behind the scenes. We sit with the referees, talk to the players, all of which remains undisclosed in the media. We may suspend referees but can't make it public due to the FIFA instructions. Besides, we are unable to punish anyone without evidence but the media has an advantage to write what they see.
DS: How can this match-fixing issue be solved?
KS: If I suspend seven and ban two, then two more pop up to commit the same crime; what can I do then? It is a continuous process. I never compromise on three things – racism, drugs and match-fixing but I must have the evidence before punishing anyone.
DS: How is match fixing, spot fixing and betting ruining the development of the country's football?
KS: It is a big obstacle. If such things happen in domestic football, then it is really difficult to develop the country's football. Actually, the BFF doesn't have any role in nationwide development, rather it has a role in organising the league, tournaments and providing the training facilities of the national football team. It is the role of every football federation in the world but in Bangladesh it doesn't quite match. That's why we have made academies for boys and girls as the clubs are unwilling to contribute to the development of the country's football. We can't get results until the clubs become professional.