Latest news with #PatrickMatasi
New Straits Times
03-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
FIFA orders Kenyan club relegation for match fixing
NAIROBI: The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) confirmed on Friday the relegation of a Kenyan club, Muhoroni Youth, after world governing body FIFA found the second-tier team guilty of match manipulation. It is the latest scandal to hit the sport in the east African country, long plagued by match-fixing. In a decision published on Friday, FIFA found Muhoroni Youth "guilty of activities related to the manipulation of football matches and competitions." It expelled the club's senior team from the FKF's second-tier National Super League and ordered their relegation to the third-tier Division One League ahead of next season. The FKF said it "fully supports FIFA's decision" and reiterated "its zero-tolerance stance on match-fixing and all forms of manipulation that threaten the integrity of the game." The move follows the suspension of former national team goalkeeper Patrick Matasi at the end of March over allegations he helped rig a 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Cameroon in Yaounde last year. Kenya lost 4-1 to diminish their chances of qualifying for the finals in Morocco in December. In February 2020 FIFA banned four Kenya-based players – one for life – over an "international conspiracy" to fix league matches. Five Kenyan referees were later suspended over the same scandal. The Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis, an independent think tank, warned that match-fixing had infiltrated Kenyan football from grassroots competitions to the professional leagues.
BBC News
28-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Kenya keeper suspended amid match-fixing investigation
Kenya goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has been provisionally suspended from all football activity in the country for 90 days amid an investigation into allegations of match Kenya Federation (FKF) took the decision on Monday evening, hours after the governing body announced it had launched an investigation into the case arose after a video posted online appeared to show the keeper agreeing a deal to influence the outcome of a BBC has not been able to verify the video, which is plays for Kenyan Premier League club Kakamega Homeboyz and has won over 30 international has not responded to multiple requests for owner of Kakamega Homeboyz, Cleophas Shimanyula, said that Matasi denied the allegations."He was shocked at what he was seeing in the video and he told me he doesn't know about match-fixing," Shimanyula told BBC Sport Africa."Kakamega Homeboyz is against any form of match manipulation."Matasi's most recent appearance for Kenya came in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Cameroon last Harambee Stars lost the game FKF said it would work with world governing body Fifa, the Confederation of African Football and other "relevant authorities" during its investigation.
New York Times
27-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Kenya goalkeeper under ‘official investigation' for alleged match-fixing
The Kenyan Football Federation (FKF) has opened an 'official investigation' into alleged match manipulation by goalkeeper Patrick Matasi. The 37-year-old, who plays for Kakamega Homeboyz in the Kenyan Premier League, has been capped 30 times by Kenya, including in qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Advertisement A video that surfaced on social media — which The Athletic has been unable to verify — appears to show Matasi in a compromising discussion with another individual regarding the outcome of a match. The KFK said it would work with 'FIFA, CAF, and other relevant authorities' to investigate the allegations, while calling for any evidence to be brought forward. 'The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) is aware of videos circulating online involving goalkeeper Patrick Matasi, raising concerns about possible match manipulation,' a statement read. 'FKF upholds the integrity of football and has launched an official investigation in collaboration with FIFA, CAF, and other relevant authorities. We reaffirm our zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation and are committed to safeguarding the credibility of our competitions. 'This investigation will adhere to FKF's Anti-Match Manipulation Regulations and FIFA guidelines, ensuring a fair, transparent, and thorough process. The rights of the player and his club will be respected, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings. 'We encourage anyone with credible information to assist in this investigation. All reports will be handled with strict confidentiality.' The Athletic has contacted Kakamega Homeboyz for comment. Speaking to BBC Sport Africa, the club's chairman Cleophas Shimanyula said Matasi had informed him that he 'doesn't know anything about match-fixing'. He explained the club have their own systems to deal with such cases and insisted they are against 'any form' of match manipulation. He also added that Matasi would keep playing for the club. 'I have spoken to him,' Shimanyula said. 'He was also shocked at what he was seeing in the video and he told me he doesn't know about match-fixing.' He continued: 'In the past we've reported match-fixing regarding some of our players (Festo Omukoto, Festus Okiring, Moses Chikati and George Mandela) who fixed a game with the coach and punishments were handed down by Fifa (in 2020). 'We have our own internal systems that we use to also look at match-fixing. 'As Kakamega Homeboyz we are asking anyone who has evidence of Matasi fixing a game to bring it forward.' (Khaled Desouki/AFP via Getty Images)
Arab News
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Kenya probes goalkeeper match-fixing allegation
NAIROBI: Kenya opened a match-fixing investigation Thursday following allegations that a national team goalkeeper helped rig an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has provisionally suspended goalkeeper Patrick Matasi from all FKF-sanctioned events and competitions for 90 days, following concerns raised by circulating videos suggesting possible match manipulation. Read more: — Football Kenya Federation (@Football_Kenya) March 27, 2025 The secretly filmed online amateur video seen by AFP shows an unnamed man talking to Matasi over a plan to fix a match in return for cash. The former AFC Leopards and Tusker goalkeeper, who also had a playing stint with Ethiopian side Coffee Sports Club, played in Kenya's 4-1 loss to former African champions Cameroon in a 2025 AFCON qualifier in Yaounde last October. The defeat dimmed Kenya's hopes of qualifying for the finals in Morocco, and led to the resignation of the team's coach Engin Firat. Matasi was dropped from the team by the new coach Benni McCarthy and did not feature in the recent 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon. Kenyan football has been hit by the dark shadow of match-fixing malpractices in the recent past with 14 players and two coaches suspended by the FKF in January 2023 following a tip-off about cheating in the national league. In February 2020, FIFA banned four Kenyan-based players — one for life — over an 'international conspiracy' to fix league matches. Five Kenyan referees were also later suspended over the same scandal. The Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis, an independent think tank, warned that match-fixing had infiltrated multiple levels of Kenyan football from grassroots competitions to the professional leagues. 'This has left a trail of disillusionment among fans and undermined the integrity of football and could lead to loss of public trust and confidence in the football industry,' the organization said in a January 2024 report.
BBC News
27-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Kenya keeper the subject of match-fixing investigation
The Kenya Football Federation (FKF) has launched an investigation into allegations that goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has been involved in match 37-year-old, who plays for Kenyan Premier League club Kakamega Homeboyz, has won over 30 international most recent appearance for the Harambee Stars came in October last year, in a qualifier for the 2025 Africa Cup of undated video posted online - which the BBC has not been able to verify - appears to show Matasi agreeing a deal to influence the outcome of a league game."I have spoken to him. He was also shocked at what he was seeing in the video and he told me he doesn't know about match-fixing," Homeboyz owner Cleophas Shimanyula told BBC Sport FKF said it would work with world governing body Fifa, the Confederation of African Football and other "relevant authorities" during its investigation."We reaffirm our zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation and are committed to safeguarding the credibility of our competitions," a statement added."This investigation will adhere to FKF's anti-match manipulation regulations and Fifa guidelines, ensuring a fair, transparent, and thorough process."The rights of the player and his club will be respected, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings."BBC Sport Africa has contacted Matasi for comment. Homeboyz offer support to Matasi Shimanyula backed Matasi, pointing to the fact the veteran has kept three clean sheets in as many games since joining the club a month ago."When we watched this video, we found that Matasi has not wronged the club," he said."In a video there can misinterpretations and false narratives and we cannot trust everything."He will keep playing for us because there's no wrongdoing on his part as far as we are concerned - unless there's evidence or the FKF writes to us to say they are suspecting the player of some wrongdoing."He is innocent until proven guilty and then we will act."The FKF has called on anyone with credible information to assist its investigation, with any reports to be handled with strict also challenged the Kenyan footballing community to provide evidence against Matasi."Kakamega Homeboyz is against any form of match manipulation," he said."In the past we've reported match-fixing regarding some of our players who fixed a game with the coach and punishments were handed down by Fifa."We have our own internal systems that we use to also look at match-fixing and I cannot speak on behalf of other clubs."As Kakamega Homeboyz we are asking anyone who has evidence of Matasi fixing a game to bring it forward."
