By Andrew Warshaw
February 7 – A former chief executive of the Zimbabwean Football Federation (ZIFA), Henrietta Rushwaya (pictured centre), will stand trial later this month on charges related to one of football’s worst ever match fixing scandals.
In a case dubbed “Asiagate” by the Zimbabwe media, Rushwaya was freed on bail yesterday and ordered to reappear in court on February 20.
Rushwaya was arrested last week after being accused of collaborating with an Asian betting syndicate to fix a number of games when the Zimbabwe national team toured Asia between 2007 and 2009.
Rushwaya, fired in October 2010 for mismanagement, is alleged to have received “huge payouts” from the betting syndicates.
She denies the allegations, labelling them as “false” when she made a brief appearance in a Harare court.
The scandal has resulted in the suspension of more than 80 players – most of them internationals – by ZIFA.
The tally is expected to rise as investigations continue.
Several internationals have admitted in sworn statements that they were paid to lose games on a tour to Malaysia and Thailand in 2009.
The team lost 2-0 to Jordan, 3-0 to Thailand and 6-0 to Syria.
“She [Rushwaya] wielded so much power in the association to become untouchable and a mini-god and could manipulate players and coaches alike to do her will,” a ZIFA report said.
“Players were afraid of her and [ZIFA] board members also felt intimidated by her.”
The notorious Singaporean match fixer Wilson Raj Perumal, now in jail in Finland, was central to the scandal.
He is said to have met players in Rushwaya’s hotel room in Malaysia where they were allegedly paid up to $6,000 (£3,800/€4,600) each to throw games.
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