'U-21 players easy prey' - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

'U-21 players easy prey'

Hindustan Times | By, Kolkata
Feb 27, 2013 12:16 AM IST

The Asian Champions League began on Tuesday with one of the teams hotly denying a match-fixing charge made by a Fifa executive committee member. Dhiman Sarkar reports.

The Asian Champions League began on Tuesday with one of the teams hotly denying a match-fixing charge made by a Fifa executive committee member. The AFC Cup, which began on the same day, seems better off on that count but Selangor coach Irfan Bakti said Malaysia is still recovering from the hit it took due to illegal betting in the 90s. "At the highest level, our football's clean now but I think we are still feeling the impact of that scandal," Bakti told HT on Tuesday.

HT Image
HT Image

Bakti spoke of "hundreds of arrests" after the government and the Football Association of Malaysia clamped down on match-fixing. Even last year, a coach was jailed for three years, he said. A 2010 report on the internet said illegal betting on football is worth up to 20 billion ringgits.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

But close scrutiny of the top tier may have left the under-21s more vulnerable, said Bakti.

"Retired players are part of most such set-ups and tapping under-21 players is easier and can also act as investments for the future," said Bakti without elaborating.

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! -Login Now! Catch all the Latest WPL Schedule 2024 and Live score along with WPL Points Table, IPL Schedule and WTC related updates on Hindustan Times Website and APPs
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Dhiman Sarkar is based in Kolkata with over two decades as a sports journalist. He writes mainly on football.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On