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FIFA slams Kenyan club Muhoroni Youth for match-fixing
Muhoroni Youth FC players pose a team photo before their FKF Premier League match against Gor Mahia at St Sebastian Park, in Muranga County on may 5, 2024.
World football governing body Fifa Fifa has sanctioned National Super League team Muhoroni Youth for match manipulation, relegating the team to the third tier yesterday.
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee found Muhoroni Youth guilty of “activities related to the manipulation of football matches and competitions”, expelling the club from the second-tier National Super League. The team has been relegated from the National Super League (NSL) to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Division One League.
The Kisumu-based club, currently ranked 18th in the 21-team NSL standings with 23 points, has been sanctioned alongside Vietnamese side Phu Tho over the same irregularity.
In a statement on Friday, May 2, Fifa’s Disciplinary Committee said it made the decision following an investigation into match-fixing activities by the two teams. However, Fifa has not disclosed the specific matches that the two clubs were found guilty of manipulating.
“Kenyan club Muhoroni Youth have been found guilty of activities related to the manipulation of football matches and competitions, and the club’s senior team has consequently been expelled from the Football Kenya Federation National Super League,” read part of the statement seen by Nation Sport.
“The Committee has further ordered the relegation of the Muhoroni Youth senior team to the Football Kenya Federation Division One League ahead of next season. The Vietnamese club will also be relegated to the Third Division ahead of next season.”
Fifa stated that the relevant member associations and parties have been notified of the decisions, which are appealable to the Fifa Appeal Committee within 10 days.
In confirming receipt of Fifa’s communication, FKF said it supports the decision.
“FKF fully supports Fifa’s decision and reiterates its zero-tolerance stance on match-fixing and all forms of manipulation that threaten the integrity of the game. We are committed to working closely with Fifa and other relevant bodies to root out this vice from Kenyan football,” read part of the statement from FKF released yesterday.
“We are launching a full-scale war on match-fixing in collaboration with Fifa, CAF, and all relevant authorities. We cannot allow this vice to undermine the progress we are making to uplift the game. Anyone found culpable will face the full consequences of their actions,” FKF General Secretary Harold Ndege said.