Cops to seek help from experts to crack fixing in Goan football

Panaji: The crime branch of Goa police investigating reports of match-fixing in the Goa Professional League will seek help from experts and minutely watch recording of the red-flagged matches to crack the code and pin those involved.
Officials and players from two suspicious clubs — Guardian Angel SC and Velsao SCC — deposed before crime branch police inspector (PI) Sherif Jaques last week. They denied their involvement in any sort of match-fixing.
Police, though, will intensify their efforts in getting to the bottom of the malice that has rocked Goan football for the last three years.
“Those who appeared and gave their statement say they are unaware of any match-fixing, that there is no foul play, but we have our own ways of finding out the truth,” SP (North) Nidhin Valsan told TOI.
“We have authorised one of our inspectors, with good knowledge of football, to investigate. More players and officials will be summoned for inquiry.”
Velsao SCC president Ancilla Britto, manager Francisco Christovom Andrade, coach Eban Mesquita and captain Ronaldo Pereira were all summoned by police. For Guardian Angel, Johney Fernandes (president), Nicholas Rodrigues (manager), Riston Rodrigues (head coach) and Gilbert Oliveira (captain) were issued the call letters after international betting monitor, Genius Sports, found the club to be involved in multiple red-flagged games in the Goa Pro League.
A match is red-flagged when betting monitors are unable to express confidence in the integrity of the match since there is “something genuinely concerning” about the betting. Such games are immediately escalated to the relevant stakeholders and the agency delivers a detailed report.
Matches are being red-flagged in the Goa Pro League from 2022.
“Our attempt is to find out the link of who the players/officials were in touch with before and after the games. We might need help from some experts and, if needed, other clubs will be summoned as well. When there is fixing, not everyone is on board, so there will be some who are unhappy that such a thing is happening. Even if they have any suspicion, they will speak about it.
“We will watch the recording of suspicious matches. If there has been fixing, and there is cheating, we will seek approval of the competent authority and register a case. If necessary, we will arrest the accused people,” said Valsan.
According to the senior police officer, the investigating authorities will also engage with officials from the Goa Football Association (GFA), match referees, match commissioners and others involved in football to ensure that match-fixing cheats are nabbed.
Goa police are investigating reports of match-fixing after GFA president Caetano Fernandes approached chief minister Pramod Sawant with a complaint. Confidential reports from Genius Sports, their London-based integrity partners, have also been submitted to police.