Match-fixing a disgrace but premier leagues not affected: football chief

Wallis Wang

The match-fixing scandal allegedly involving first division football club Happy Valley Athletic Association has brought shame to the local league, says Hong Kong Football Association chairman Pui Kwan-kay.

A total of 23 people, including a coach and 11 footballers, were arrested by the Independent Commission Against Corruption on suspicion of match-fixing on Tuesday.

Speaking on radio yesterday, Pui admitted the association has spotted "abnormal results" in certain matches, but said they "cannot thoroughly investigate every player and coach."

He added: "As we can't find substantial evidence, we had to seek help from law enforcers."

Pui said the top leagues are under tighter supervision so gambling syndicates are targeting amateur leagues, which are difficult to monitor as they involve a large number of teams and matches.

The matches are being held at various fields and it is difficult to deploy staff for supervision and the association can only appeal to teams not to commit immoral acts, he said.

The scandal has undermined the reputation of the local teams, he said.

"We all believe this match-fixing scandal is a disgrace to the local field. But it will not have a huge impact on the football development in Hong Kong because this involved lower-level games," Pui said.

"The Hong Kong Premier League and Hong Kong Premier Youth League are well-organized."

But Pui said his group will step up monitoring and football teams should come together to promote ethical and moral conduct.

Asked if match-fixing could be the result of players being underpaid, Pui said the first, second and third divisions are for amateur teams, meaning players all have other jobs and do not play for money.

"Many of the teams are very nice. They don't care about the salary and the players are just passionate about football and want to support the sport," he said.

But Lobo Louie Hung-tak, associate head of the Education University's Department of Health and Physical Education, disagrees with Pui's opinion that players participate in matches merely out of interest. Louie said young players think differently compared to senior players and it is possible that they committed the offense for personal benefit.

Hong Kong has failed in moral education over the past few decades and only cared about students' grades, he said, adding there is a need to review the education system.

"Match-fixing is not a problem of a certain football club, it's a social issue."

Louie said the football industry in Hong Kong is limited and it is difficult to develop a fair system to prevent match-fixing.

Betting fraud monitoring company Sportradar, which has partnered with the local football association, said match-fixing is on the rise across Asia.

The continent has recorded its second-highest number of suspicious matches last year.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com