The Game Behind the Game

Football is undoubtedly the most common and enjoyable sport in Kenya. We do not need to do a survey to prove that. Fans enjoy variety of local, national and international leagues & championships from their country to all over the World. By extension, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to claim or rather state that football is the most popular sport in the world- with approximately 3.5 Billion fans- which also makes it the most viewed sport.

But what if all you see on your screens or the pitch is a lie? What happens to the euphoria, anxiety, and agony we feel before, during, and after a football match when games’ outcomes have in fact been manipulated, or unduly influenced? The reality of the matter is, match manipulation happens more often than we think. Players, coaches, match officials, club owners, club insiders, referee committee members, football federation officials and many big financiers are webbed in a syndicate that threatens to erode the integrity of the beautiful game.

Match fixing can be described as the intentional attempts to influence the outcome of a sport’s event(s) or the manipulation of events within a fixture upon which the market exists, with it being labelled a conspiracy to defraud bookmakers. All these of course is driven by financial gain.

According to UEFA, preventing match-fixing is crucial to safeguarding the integrity of football. Once integrity of football is compromised, trust is lost. Typically, match-fixing transcends national borders, making detection and prosecution very very difficult. But some cases can be identified relatively easily…

Dive In

Generally, match fixing is perceived to be a high profit and relatively low risk crime. It is often associated with serious criminal activities such as corruption, fraud and money laundering, with profits benefitting the people pulling the strings, mostly criminal networks. Many countries including Kenya have not yet criminalized match fixing. This means that one cannot be prosecuted in court for any offence in relation to match manipulation. Only sanctions and lengthy or permanent bans from any football related activities can apply to individuals implicated.

Match fixing is considered endemic in smaller leagues or lower paying sports in general vis-à-vis top leagues which are usually insulated a bit because of good pay packages and major scrutiny. The type of match fixing that gets exposed is usually orchestrated by organized crime groups or networks, mostly from Asia.

I love spicing up my research with some crazy stat for you to understand the severity of the situation. Interpol and Europol work together to combat transnational crime and are expected to tackle the match fixing problem. In 2020, Interpol’s entire budget was £135m while Europol’s was £175m. Altogether, that’s about a third of what is estimated to be staked on 1 English Premier League (EPL) game (up-to £1Bn). This is according to International Centre for Sports Security. Interpol and Europol work together to combat transnational crime and are expected to tackle the match fixing problem!

There are various enablers of this vice including players, match officials, coaches and other facilitators. Coaches are compelled to make decisions and can field weakened teams, make tactical decisions or make ‘some’ subs, which serves ulterior motives. Refs directly influence games by making on-field decisions, and have been worse with the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in cases where blatant interpretation of the law is thrown out of the window.

Members of a referee committee who, one of their mandates is to choose refs to officiate games can also pick specific refs to a particular game and extend by giving instructions on how the game should pan out. Individuals from within a club can also leak out information pertaining team selection, injury, which can aide in match manipulation.

The match manipulators targets individuals, more so players who are in debt, have an addiction in betting or are desperate for some quick money. With how the football world is structured in Kenya, you can easily find a player within these parameters and try to orchestrate the fixing with them. Clubs don’t pay their players on time, sometimes going for months, and most footballers struggle to make their ends meet. They can become easy targets for manipulation, tasked with actions like deliberately underperforming, conceding a goal, manipulating set pieces, or getting booked.

Gambling

The exponential growth of the gambling industry in recent years has increased the risk of match-fixing. Let’s get it straight, that doesn’t necessarily mean that gambling=match fixing. Gambling in sports has become a major source of revenue (In 2024, the Kenya Revenue Authority collected Ksh24.3 billion) thus creating a market for those who want to manipulate the outcome of games for their own financial gain and hedge against losses. In 2024, Kenyans spent over Ksh766 billion on gambling — equating to approximately Ksh2.1 billion daily and Ksh24, 000 every second.

In this case, individuals with insider knowledge or access to players, coaches or referees may be tempted to exploit their positions, which gives them an opportunity to manipulate the outcome of games to ensure that bets they have placed or that others have placed are successful.

The organized crime groups often form front companies and use intermediaries to approach clubs, offering sponsorships or deals with hidden agendas. They come and out rightly buy your club so that they can operate their syndicate, or they offer a sponsorship deal, but with conditions e.g., employ a particular manager and/or certain players. The clubs may/may not be knowing who and what they are dealing with.

Once the deal has been signed and their goals have been met, they cut ties with the club, blaming poor results etc. They then move on to their next victim, and the cycle continues. In 2020, Sofapaka F.C Chairman Mr. Elly Kalekwa revealed in an interview with Idah Waringa, an NTV journalist at that time that their club had fallen victim to this deal.

They also organize something like a friendly game or a mini tournament with countries or clubs, with cash out payment made in advance, and winners already known. This is a collusion between the notorious match fixers and the federations involved in setting up these games.

How can we be able to spot a match that has possibly been manipulated?

I. Intelligence- By using informants and tracking players who have been previously indicted

II. Betting- Some odds can be analysed and suspicious trends can be critically analyzed

III. Game analysis- If a team has deviated from how they normally play

Easy to arrange, hard to stop.

Incidents of Match-fixing in Kenya

Kenya in its recent history has recorded quite a number of cases of match fixing, most notably including:

1. Several players and officials were involved in a match fixing syndicate in the 2010 Kenya Premier League (KPL). Investigations led to suspension of several officials and players, and some were later found guilty of match-fixing.

2. The 2012 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup match-fixing scandal involved several Kenyan football players who were found guilty of match-fixing in a 2010 World Cup qualifying match against Tunisia.

3. The National Super League (NSL) was embroiled in a match fixing scandal in the 2016 season. Several NSL teams and officials were implicated in the saga. The players and officials were later either suspended or banned from football.

4. In February 2020, FIFA banned four Kenyan players, including one George Owino for life, for taking part in an “international conspiracy” to fix league matches.

5. In 2021, six players from Zoo Kericho FC were found guilty of match-fixing by FIFA’s integrity unit and expelled from the Kenyan Premier League.

6. The latest scandal was in March 2025 where Harambee Stars and Kakamega Homeboyz goalkeeper Patrick Matasi was implicated in a video cooperating to aid with match fixing. He has since been suspended as investigations continue.

These are only very highly notable cases. Unfortunately not all made it to the list above.

Community Clubs vs. Commercial Clubs: The Vulnerability Divide

In Kenya, the distinction between community-based clubs and corporate-backed teams plays a crucial role in match-fixing. Community clubs, often operating on tight budgets with limited oversight, are more susceptible to manipulation. The lack of resources and professional structures leaves them vulnerable to external, and even internal pressures, making it easier for corrupt individuals to influence outcomes.

On the other hand, commercial and corporate clubs are better funded, more organized, and under greater scrutiny from sponsors, regulators, and fans, making match-fixing far more difficult to execute at these levels. However, this does not insulate them from this menace.

It’s essential for both types of clubs, in collaboration with governing bodies, to strengthen integrity measures, enhance oversight, and ensure that football remains a fair and honest competition for all.

Consequences of Match-Fixing

Despite investments in sports welfare and infrastructure by the government, and football being governed and regulated by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), Confederation of African Football (CAF) and being a member of The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), match-fixing in football is still persistent in Kenya and brings:

ü Loss of public trust & confidence in the game

ü Financial losses for football organizations and clubs

ü Lack of sponsors or sponsors pull out for fear of tarnishing their brand image

ü Loss of broadcasting rights

ü Footballers lose morale, young ballers get demotivated

ü Reduced attendees in stadiums

ü Lack of reputation which jeopardizes the integrity and potential growth of the sport

Ghanaian Chaos

In an exposé by Anas Aremeyaw Anas, a BBC News Africa journalist, over 78 match officials were implicated in a massive match fixing syndicate in Ghana. Members of the referee committee, who select match officials for games, were also implicated in this mess, leaving fans bewildered. He went ahead and fished out match officials who took charge of continental tournaments, more specifically the CAF Champions League, and implicated a Kenyan referee, Aden Marwa, who was on his way to officiate the World Cup later in that year.

Mr. Marwa was caught on camera receiving a $600 ‘gift’, which goes contrary to what is expected from them. He didn’t make it to the World Cup as he was later suspended. The pinnacle of the exposé caught up with Ghanaian Football Association President, Kwesi Nyantakyi, who doubled up as 2nd in command in Confederation of African Football (CAF), underscoring the rot which had spread in the country and continent at large.

Possible ways to combat Match Manipulation

The Sports Act 2013 is an Act of Parliament that helps to facilitate sports development by ensuring drug-free sports, establishment of sports institutions, facilities and effectiveness of sports management in Kenya. However, the available legislation does not have provisions on how to specifically deal with match-fixing, leaving it to be very hard to prosecute and in case of any proof of offence, it is treated as just a misdemeanor. This needs to be urgently amended. Countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa and Nigeria have recognized the threat posed by match-fixing and have implemented regulations, policies, and laws to combat match-fixing and promote fair play. These measures have criminalized match-fixing and have established bodies or agencies responsible for monitoring and investigating suspicious activities.

The government could establish strict regulations for betting companies.

There is need for comprehensive awareness and education campaigns targeted at players, football officials, and the public. Promoting integrity through dedicated education and training programmes and raising awareness of potential threats and consequences of the same.

To reduce the susceptibility of players and technical staff to bribery and other influences, it is crucial to establish a standardized remuneration criterion for players and members of the technical bench. This could be accompanied by timely disbursement of salaries and bonuses to ensure financial stability and discourage unethical behavior. Australia and South Africa have implemented regulations and have established minimum wage standards for players, coaches, and referees in certain sports. These regulations aim to ensure that individuals receive fair and consistent compensation for their work. Some sports associations often negotiate collective bargaining agreements with sports leagues and organizations, which include provisions for player salaries, benefits, and other financial incentives.

UEFA have partnered with Sportradar who have a betting fraud detection system that identifies fraudulent activity in real time by analysing the global betting market. A suspicious match alert triggers investigations by either our own anti-match-fixing team or the national association’s integrity officer, depending on legal jurisdiction. These investigations are frequently carried out in conjunction with state authorities. FKF should work with tech providers to come up with a similar platform that will specifically focus on the Kenyan gambling market, to flash out suspicious activities in due time.

The government and relevant authorities could take measures to promote transparency and accountability in the football industry by implementing measures to combat corruption and encouraging stakeholders to adhere to ethical standards. Transparency in management and decision-making will help create an environment where match-fixing is less likely to occur.

To enhance monitoring and detection of match-fixing instances, the government could create an independent investigation unit solely focused on investigating not only football, but also sports-related fraud.

Football is more than just a game in Kenya — it’s a passion that unites communities, inspires dreams, and ignites national pride. From dusty pitches in the villages to roaring stadiums in the cities, the love for the sport runs deep in the veins of millions. But this love deserves better. It deserves honesty, integrity, and fairness.

Match-fixing threatens the very soul of football. It robs the game of its unpredictability, its excitement, and its honor. That is why integrity of the sport has to be paramount and maintained to the highest decorum. We must not allow corruption to taint a sport that has given so many hope and purpose. Merit, not manipulation. Let’s protect the game we love. Let’s restore trust. Let’s give our heroes a fair stage to shine and our youth a reason to dream again.

References

**https://www.uefa.com/running-competitions/integrity/anti-match-fixing/ Anti-Match-fixing, UEFA.COM**

**https://youtu.be/BdkNapb2Axk?si=Mz7ACoHo1Z__iMIU An introduction to match-fixing in football, The Athletic**

**https://kippra.or.ke/when-winning-is-not-enough-the-disturbing-trend-of-match-fixing-in-kenyan-football/ When Winning is Not Enough: The Disturbing Trend of Match-Fixing in Kenyan Football, KIPPRA, 2024**

**https://www.policyvault.africa/policy/the-sports-act-2013/ The Sports Act, Policy Vault.Africa**

**https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2023/1/14/kenya-football-suspends-16-players-coaches-for-match-fixing Al-Jazeera, 2023**

**https://fifpro.org/en/supporting-players/player-influence/merit-award/championing-integrity-kenyan-football-s-fight-against-match-fixing Championing Integrity: Kenyan football’s fight against match-fixing, FIFPRO.**