Bookie arrested during Johor-Kedah match

Match fixing reared its ugly head yet again when police arrested an alleged bookie during the Johor-Kedah Malaysia Cup Group A match at the Larkin Stadium on Tuesday.

 

Kedah won the match 2-0 with a brace by national player Khyril Muhymeen.

However, Johor team manager Datuk Abdul Aziz Sapian does not believe any of his players were involved in any match fixing and is more than satisfied with the overall performance of the team against four-time champions Kedah.

"Kedah won on merit. Even if a bookie has been arrested, let us not just pick on the players.

 

"Match-fixing is not just about the bookies and the players. The net should be cast far and wide ...you also have to look at the match officials.

"The referees or coaches could also be the target of the bookies.

"So it is only fair that all angles should be investigated and bring the culprits to book.

"Of course I am perturbed with the arrest of an alleged bookie," said Abdul Aziz, who has vowed to get rid of the ugly disease.

On May 9, the Johor FA management gave four players an immediate boot from the team for alleged match fixing.

According to Abdul Aziz, team management also took several other measures to curb match-fixing, which he did not disclose.

"We might have lost to Kedah but it does not mean it is the end of Johor's campaign in the Malaysia Cup.

"One defeat is not the end of the world... there are other matches to be played and we will try to qualify for the quarter-finals from the group.

"Our next match is against Perak away this Saturday. The players have vowed to improve on their performance and go for a win. There is still hope and we will fight till the end."

After Perak, Johor will travel to Kota Kinabalu for a mid-week match against Sabah .