Is BFF itself sincere about preventing fixed matches?

Four years ago there was a major commotion in the country's football fraternity regarding fixed matches in the professional football league. Since then three seasons have been completed without any complaints.

However, it seems that the cancer has returned with a vengeance, evidenced by the latter stages of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League. This raises the question of whether the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), together with the clubs, actually wants to root out or prevent fixed matches at all.

In 2012, there were allegations of two matches being fixed – one between Brothers Union and Rahmatganj and the other between Brothers Union and Sheikh Jamal DC. While the teams involved in the former fixture were cleared due to a lack of concrete evidence, the allegations surrounding the latter match were dismissed because the BFF did not launch any official investigation into the issue.

The Fixed Match Identification Committee then made significant recommendations urging the game's governing body to carry out formal investigations and to involve the Home Ministry, Anti-Corruption Commission and former national footballers. The committee also recommended that help be sought from the authorities and recorded telephone conversations between players and officials be acquired if needed.

However, truth be told, the game's governing body has failed to take even one of these recommendations into consideration during the past four years. The Fixed Match Identification Committee is still headed by Humayun Khalid and comprises of four former government officials whose football credentials are severely lacking. So, even if the alleged 'cooked' game between Abahani and Sheikh Jamal this season is referred to the current committee, one should expect a similar outcome to previous investigations.

“Since 2012, we have not come any further. The [BFF] hasn't taken any initiatives to implement our recommendations and we continue to work like we previously did,” Khalid told The Daily Star over phone.

When asked if there was a possibility that the verdict this time would be similar to the one given in 2012 due to a lack of concrete evidence, Khalid replied: “It is not a given that the outcome will be the same as in 2012. We now have some experience in this regard.”

Khalid went on to state that he believes the Fixed Match Identification Committee is a warrior without a sword and shield but, if instructed to find the truth, they would give more importance to media reports and even speak to journalists directly.

However, if there were any questions regarding the BFF's sincerity in preventing fixed matches, a statement made by BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag now provides a clear reflection of the intentions of the BFF high-ups.

“We could not implement those recommendations because we did not face such things in the last three to four years. If the committee wants the relevant documents, then we will definitely try to collect those from different sources,” said Shohag.

On the other hand, former national footballer and coach Golam Sarwar Tipu believes there is no way to prevent fixed matches here.

“The BFF is being run mostly by club officials who oppose their own decisions at club meetings after having approved them at federation meetings. Playing a fixed match is a conventional incident because it has been happening for a long time and will continue until club and BFF officials realise where football stands now,” Tipu said.

“Everyone knows the present condition of football and if fixed matches continue to be played, everyone will forget football,” opined Tipu.

“The only solution to escaping this evil is to be honest about what needs to be done, whether it is by an official, player or coach. However, if there were visible initiatives to prevent fixed matches, there would have been some impact,” said veteran coach Maruful Haque.

Seeking anonymity, a federation official said: “If the professional league committee hired any government detective agency by paying a minor portion of the [Tk 4.8 crore] money which is given to the clubs, then the clubs would not dare become involved in fixed matches.”