Media reports in Ghana indicate that four football referees in Malawi have been found guilty of match fixing after receiving $20 between them to fix a game.

The referees allegedly received $20 between them to fix a match, but returned $15 to the team involved in the bribe because it failed to win the encounter.

According to GhanaSoccerNet, referee Aziz Nyirenda, assistant referees Limbani Chisambi and Stephano Gomani, and fourth official Jimmy Phiri were all found guilty.

The four fixed a national cup match between lower league teams, Nchalo United and Chitipa United.

The match-fixing scandal was revealed after Nchalo United (the team that bribed the refs) lost in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw and demanded its money back.

When the referees could only return $15, Nchalo went to the authorities but no sanctions have been announced against the team and the case against Nchalo is still pending.

Malawian Referees Association announced the ban and general secretary Chris Kalichero said there was still an element of game-fixing by the officials and when you commit such a crime, a life ban is the punishment.

Chisambi, on the other hand, has since denied any wrongdoing by saying: ”I never took (a) share of the money. It is so sad that my career has ended in this manner.”

MTN Football