After some African and Bulgarian clubs, Singapore is the next to take on match fixing much seriously than others. In the latest developments, Football Association of Singapore’s general secretary Winston Lee has confirmed their intentions to use mandatory polygraph tests to cure rising complaints of match fixing. Perhaps, match fixing is a global cancer which is hollowing the proudest sport in the world. In many parts of the world, some big clubs or rather big players are often alleged for their involvement in some sort of match fixing. Moreover, recently, many Premier League’s players have been suspended by FA for their proved conviction in deciding a match outside the field. Lee told the media that how recently some foreigners entered in Singapore and offered huge money to their goalkeepers. He said, “Recently some foreigners flew into the country and offered a large sum of money to a goalkeeper, and he reported this to our FA and we had these people arrested and they are now in jail in Singapore.” Though, there are many organized match fixing gangs that are working around the globe and one prominent name among them is Wilson Raj Perumal, who has been caught last year and is the world’s most prolific match-fixers – as confirmed by FIFA.
Besides Singapore, Bulgarian club Lokomotiv Plovdiv has also ordered a lie detector test for their players. Though, this move was highly criticized by international players’ union: FIFPro. Despite, Lee is quite sure that this measure will surely improve a level of honesty and integrity among players in Singapore. He said, “You can never totally eradicate the problem but it is realistic to try and reduce it and this is one way we have done this.” According to Lee, most vulnerable targets are young players and players who are reaching their retirement age, so it is necessary to take such a provision where any untoward happening could be tracked down in its early stage. Perhaps, in Singapore, it’s now necessary for all national soccer players to undergo a lie detector test like any fitness test.
Contrary to this, FIFPro totally disagrees to this approach to tackle corruption in soccer. A Dutch based union has described it ‘dubious’ and said, “FIFPro totally disagrees with the decision of the Bulgarian club Lokomotiv Plovdiv to order their players and coaches to take lie detector tests.”
FIFPro lawyer further added, “If this tool were to be applied, then it should be used by the defence, not by the prosecutor.”