Could Isha Johansen’s (in photo above) comment spark another controversy
President of Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Isha Johansen said there are still attempts to disrupt the process of an ongoing match-fixing investigation process in the country.
The SLFA boss made this revelation during her address at the at David Cameron's landmark anti-corruption summit in United Kingdom (UK) a few weeks back in which she was one of the five speakers at the summit. In an article published on the Huffington Post, the SLFA boss also stated that her attempts to get the match-fixing commission started has faced intense opposition from prominent figures in both the business and political world.
President of Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Isha Johansen said there are still attempts to disrupt the process of an ongoing match-fixing investigation process in the country.
The SLFA boss made this revelation during her address at the at David Cameron's landmark anti-corruption summit in United Kingdom (UK) a few weeks back in which she was one of the five speakers at the summit. In an article published on the Huffington Post, the SLFA boss also stated that her attempts to get the match-fixing commission started has faced intense opposition from prominent figures in both the business and political world.
“Corruption in sports is separate and less significant than financial and political corruption. My two year-campaigns against match-fixing in Sierra Leone is clear evidence of that. Our attempts to get a match-fixing commission underway faced intense opposition from prominent figures in the business and political worlds, as well as football stakeholders with deep rooted ties to institutionalized corruption,” Madam Johansen said.
She added that with the backing of FIFA and most significantly so the government, the commission is now up and running.
Johansen further stated that: “Government level co-operation in Africa is essential to demonstrate the seriousness of the problem and prevent it from being seen just as a lapse of sporting behavior. Despite this, there are still attempts to derail the process from all sectors of society.”
According to the SLFA Chief, from a sporting perspective, match fixing undermines the game's integrity, alienates fans, reduces opportunities for legitimate funding which she said could be invested in the game and destroys promising careers.
The Sierra Leone first football female President also revealed that because Sierra Leone lacks the resources, lightly policed gambling market and no national anti-match fixing program, it makes the country vulnerable to match-fixing problem.
This latest disclosure from the SLFA boss could spark up another debate from her rivals who are seriously against her alleged match-fixing investigation which has lasted over a year now.
She added that with the backing of FIFA and most significantly so the government, the commission is now up and running.
Johansen further stated that: “Government level co-operation in Africa is essential to demonstrate the seriousness of the problem and prevent it from being seen just as a lapse of sporting behavior. Despite this, there are still attempts to derail the process from all sectors of society.”
According to the SLFA Chief, from a sporting perspective, match fixing undermines the game's integrity, alienates fans, reduces opportunities for legitimate funding which she said could be invested in the game and destroys promising careers.
The Sierra Leone first football female President also revealed that because Sierra Leone lacks the resources, lightly policed gambling market and no national anti-match fixing program, it makes the country vulnerable to match-fixing problem.
This latest disclosure from the SLFA boss could spark up another debate from her rivals who are seriously against her alleged match-fixing investigation which has lasted over a year now.
By: Sahr Morris Jr.
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