FIFA supports Sierra Leone in fight against match manipulation
ZURICH: FIFA will support Sierra Leone in the fight against match manipulation. The President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Isha Johansen visited the Home of FIFA to meet with FIFA President Blatter, FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke and representatives from FIFA’s Security Division and Disciplinary & Governance Department to discuss and seek advice as to how to tackle the wave of match manipulation allegations regarding football in Sierra Leone.
It was agreed that FIFA’s Security Division would assist the SLFA in its fight against corruption and match manipulation in two ways – by supporting the investigation conducted by the SLFA and by assisting it in setting up its own national integrity programme. FIFA Security Director Ralf Mutschke will in due course personally travel to Sierra Leone to finalise the plans.
During the meetings, the FIFA President and the Secretary General again underlined the utmost importance of combatting match manipulation and promised full support from FIFA. “Match fixing shakes the very foundations of sport, namely fair play, respect and discipline. That is why FIFA employs a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to any infringement of these values. We therefore fully support the SLFA,” said FIFA President Blatter.
##############
