FIFA: Match-fixing confessions could affect bans

Harare (Zimbabwe): Players and officials involved in match-fixing could receive lighter punishments by coming clean, FIFA’s head of security said Monday.

Chris Eaton wrapped up a trip to Zimbabwe, where the sport has been mired in corruption allegation, by promising that FIFA would take any confessions into consideration when deciding on the length of a ban for those found guilty of match-fixing.

“It is not an amnesty,” he said. “The fact that you come forward now may be of great assistance to what may or may not happen to you.”

Zimbabwean players have admitted they were paid to lose games in Asia in 2009 where they lost 2-0 to Jordan, 3-0 toThailand and 6-0 to Syria.

Eaton, a 40-year veteran of international police service, told reporters he will investigate all aspects of a 160-page report on match-fixing compiled to the Zimbabwe Football Association.

“Football has to survive the attack on its credibility,” he said. “Gambling is far bigger than football itself.”

Elliot Kasu, an official with Zimbabwe’s federation, said the national body only had power to impose disciplinary action against implicated players and officials, but that police and anti-corruption officials were handling possible criminal charges outlined in the report.