Bribery and match-fixing can ruin future, career of footballers - Rozi

Players involved in match-fixing or bribery will not get away but rather end up destroying their own future and career in football.

State Youth, Sports and Human Resource committee chairman Datuk Rozi Mamat said those involved in bribery or match-fixing are only thinking of 'fast money' or short term returns but they forget that they are gambling their future.

Rozi said if players are offered perks or cash for fixing matches, they should be matured enough to think about their future and not be influenced by lucrative offers from bookies to fix matches.

"Bribery in football is not something new. Such practices have been established for a long time. Now enforcement must be strict to curb these 'disease'. Young players especially should not regard such offers as special because accepting such offers is ruining their own career and future," he told Bernama.

He said to avoid being trapped in match-fixing or bribery, players must have a very high level of discipline, integrity and quickly act against anyone trying to offer money to fix matches.

Meanwhile, Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman who is also the Terengganu Football Association president said bookies have turned sports for their own benefit and to rake in profits for themselves at the expense of players.

"Curbing bribery in football or in sports for the matter is becoming very complex and difficult to stop. Players must therefore, look after their discipline to preserve the image of football in the country," said Ahmad Razif.

He said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) efforts to tackle the issue of match-fixing and bribery is sports must be commended but it is not just the responsibility of the commission alone but players and officials as well.

Mohd Zaki Mat Yakim, a football fan when met by Bernama said enforcement and punishment must be severe so that it can serve as a lesson to others.

He said match-fixing and bribery in football or sports as a whole must be viewed as a heinous act that can tarnish the image of the sport.

Another fan, Zubir Sulaiman, said bribery in football is not only unfair to the team, the sport and the country but to the fans and supporters as well.

"The fans and supporters stand behind their teams in good and bad times to provide support, even when they lose. Therefore, we must weed out the roots of match-fixing and bribery in football," he said. - BERNAMA