The Metropolitan Crime Division of Nepal Police had arrested five footballers of Nepal including national players Sagar Thapa (skipper), Sandeep Rai, Ritesh Thapa and former Nepal internationals Bikash Singh Chhetri and Anjan KC on Wednesday, alleging them of fixing Nepal's international matches under the influence of bookies based in Malaysia and Singapore for financial gain.
Nepal Police has also presented evidences of match fixing by the alleged footballers. However, the Police had not disclosed that the arrests were assisted by information and intelligence from the AFC and Sportradar.
Issuing a press statement on Friday, AFC acting General Secretary Windsor John said, "The AFC adopts a zero tolerance policy toward match-fixing and a 360 degree view on the issue through a strategy of prevention, detection and response. These arrests show that the strategy is working. We applaud the Nepali Police for their reaction to the information and intelligence we have generated in partnership with Sportradar."
According to the AFC, the process leading to the arrests began when suspicious betting patterns were detected on a number of matches played by the Nepali national football team. A year-long investigation was held into matches stretching back to 2008 with further intelligence gathering revealing suspicious financial transactions linked to Nepali nationals. The intelligence was shared with the Nepal Police and a formal investigation began which has so far resulted in five arrests. The AFC will launch appropriate disciplinary proceedings in due course.
Sportradar mainly works to find out fraud and match-fixing incidents and provides relevant sport and non-sport stakeholders with expertise to help them prevent and detect match manipulation of sports worldwide.
In the statement, Sportradar Managing Director Andreas Krannich is quoted as saying, "In the last few years our Fraud Detection System reports have been integral to over 100 arrests worldwide around match-fixing and manipulation so we are proud to see our reports and intelligence services continue to make a difference in countries that love and cherish sport. But our work is only as good as the stakeholders who receive the reports and intelligence. So we are even more proud of the commitment and work of the AFC and the Nepali police. They have laid down a clear marker to all those passionate about Nepal and Asian football that match fixing is taken seriously and that the perpetrator will not go unpunished."
The release has quoted MCD SSP Sarbendra Khanal as saying, "This is an important week in how Nepal presents its stance on match fixing. We extend our thanks to Sportradar and the Asian Football Confederation for the information and intelligence that they unearthed. We have worked tremendously well together till date and I am confident we can continue to work effectively going forward."
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