October 9 – In what is probably the most peculiar case of match-fixing to date, four match officials in Malawi have been banned after the fixers went to the authorities for help to get their money back after they didn’t get the result they wanted.
Nchalo United bribed the refs before a national cup game against Chitipa United. Nchalo eventually lost in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.
Nchalo, who had paid the four officials $20 then went to them and demanded their money back. When the referees could only return $15, Nchalo went to the authorities. Perhaps not the smartest of moves a match-fixer can make.
Referee Aziz Nyirenda, assistant referees Limbani Chisambi and Stephano Gomani, and fourth official Jimmy Phiri, have all been banned for life by the Malawi FA.
So far Nchalo have not been sanctioned but there is a case pending.
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