AFC Disciplinary Committee delivers lifetime bans for match-fixing

Press Release

The AFC Disciplinary Committee today banned Tajikistani referee Murtazoev Parviz for life for attempted match-fixing. The Committee also issued lifetime bans for four Nepali players and one official for match-fixing. These cases show that the AFC’s strategy against match-fixing is delivering concrete results.

Parviz was found guilty of conspiring to influence the result of the Maldives vs. Tajikistan match in the AFC U-19 Championship on October 6, 2015. Parviz was the appointed referee liaison officer for the match and attempted to corrupt the referee. However, the referee acted in accordance with his signed AFC integrity declaration and reported the attempt via the appropriate avenues. He had been provisionally suspended by the AFC Disciplinary Committee on October 16, 2015 (https://www.the-afc.com/media-releases/afc-suspends-match-official-for-attempted-match-fixing).

In addition, four Nepal players and one official were banned for life for match-fixing offences. Official Anjan K.C. and the four players, Bikash Singh Chhetri, Sandip Rai, Ritesh Thapa and Sagar Thapa, were found guilty of violating article 62 and 69 of the AFC Disciplinary Code in relation to various friendly international A team fixtures during the period 2008-2012. All five had been provisionally banned by the AFC Disciplinary Committee on October 16, 2015 (https://www.the-afc.com/media-releases/afc-suspends-nepali-players-and-official-for-match-fixing).

The life bans follow a year-long investigation coordinated between the AFC and its partner Sportradar, as well as the Metropolitan Crime Division of the Nepal Police and the UEFA integrity unit.

The AFC has a zero tolerance to match-manipulation and a 360 degree view on the issue through prevention, detection and response. The three-point strategy includes the provision of integrity training to players, team officials and match officials in all AFC competitions. All major AFC competitions are monitored, including this year’s AFC Asian Cup 2015, where zero cases of suspected match-fixing were identified.

Monday, 07 December 2015