PORT LOUIS: Ten days before the world football rolls into town for its annual congress, football in Mauritius has been hit with a matchfixing scandal.

Dinnanathlall Persunnoo, president of the local football association, is being accused of match-fixing by  Stanley United from the island’s national second division. Persunoo, according to local media reports, is alleged to have fixed results to determine issues of  relegation and promotion.

Both the scandal and its timing is embarrassing since corruption in sports administration is the main shadow which has loomed over the world federation in particular and the game in general over the past four years.

Anzal Hossenbaccus, president of Stanley United,  recorded a telephone conversation he had with Persunnoo in which the pair recounted the events of the last day of the championship. The recording was later broadcast on Radio Plus, an independent radio station in Mauritius.

Hossenbaccus told BBC Sport: “Persunnoo explained how everything was calculated for the promotion and also for the relegation. Now our team [Stanley United] has been relegated to the inter-regional leagues whereas his team, Mahebourg Quartier, remain in the second division.

“We have now no alternative than to initiate a lawsuit against him and the MFA.”

Persunnoo has agreed a conversation took  place but has denied any wrongdoing.

He said: “I have not been involved in any case of match-fixing and was just joking during that conversation. I did not use pressure and threats to wheel and deal matches. I am being harassed by the president of Stanley United.”

FIFA Congress takes place in Mauritius on May 30 and 31.

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