Match fixing is the next big thing happening in the soccer world today, and its latest sufferers are three Guatemala players who are banned by FIFA for life on match fixing charges. The players include Guillermo Ramírez , Yony Flores, Gustavo Adolfo Cabrera. Notably, these players were already banned by National Football Federation of Guatemala last month. The decision for their life suspension is taken based on the three matches that are suspected to be fixed by these players: one was CONCACAF League fixture between Santos Laguna and Guatemalan club which Santos won by score 6-1 margin in 2010 and other two matches were friendly clashes against Costa Rica and Venezuela in May and June this year. Notably, all these matches were lost by Guatemala straightforwardly. FIFA said via a web statement that “The Disciplinary Body of the Guatemala FA, after having conducted complete and extensive investigations, passed their decisions on September 6 2012, which are now final and binding.”
It further reads as, “FIFA’s decisions were taken following receipt of the case file, and are in accordance with article 136 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.”
The decision is more appealing since players involved in it are star Guatemala players who have played more than 100 matches for it including 2014 world cup qualifiers. Since they were already banned by Guatemala Football Association last month, FIFA just extended their ban to cover all international matches. Though, FIFA did not reveal the circumstances how they impart in match fixing but Chairman of FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee carried on the investigation done by Guatemala FA and decided this ban. Two of the three players banned are defenders while one of them is a midfielder. As of now, only three matches are suspected to be fixed but if a further investigation is carried out, there could be other fixtures who are supposed to be fixed especially Guatemala’s 5-0 defeat from South Africa in an another friendly match in 2010.
There have been many cases of match fixing in recent past and various club managers are using different techniques to tackle fixing demon in the soccer world, including a lie detector test. Yes, many teams are using a compulsory lie detector test on their players if they suspect any match to be fixed. Anyhow, since governing bodies are taking every fixing scandal seriously now, match fixing can be restricted if not completely removed.