Source: Scotland on Sunday, 29 Feb. 2004 at: http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=237922004 By: Ben Lytteton
Four teams in India could be banned from playing football after a match-fixing scandal ruined the end of a tense season in Goa�s regional league second division. Promotion rivals Curtorim Gym and Wilfred Leisure went into the last match level on points, but with Curtorim seven ahead on goal difference. At half-time, Curtorim were struggling to hold on to a 1-0 lead over Sangolda Lightning, while Wilfred were 7-0 up on Dona Paula Sports Club. At that stage, Curtorim were only one goal ahead - and when they found out how Wilfred were getting on, the fix became a reality. Curtorim scored 60 goals in the second half, winning 61-1 to secure top spot - but only just. Wilfred won 55-1. Now, all four teams have been suspended for a minimum of one year, and they may never play again, according to Goa Football Association secretary Savio Messias. "It is really unfortunate," he commented. One Sangolda player has pleaded his innocence, and insisted that even the coach had no idea what was going on. Marcelino Dias threw away a career as a body-builder to follow his dream of becoming an Indian international - but now he is a pariah in his hometown of Oxel. He complained: "I was told that if we won, Sangolda could make it to the first division. The goal we conceded in the first half was a freakish one. We could have beaten them, but things got out of hand. "No-one would have ever expected Sangolda to lose by more than two goals. We've won ten tournaments around Goa, after all." The second half deluge surprised everyone, Dias included: "I was never party to the deal. The moment I came to know of the fix, at half-time, I left the field. In my disgust I even left the pitch without informing the referee, which earned me a yellow card. "The coach was also not involved - he also walked away." Now Dias faces a personal problem, too - telling his father, who had spent lots of money furthering his son's career. ---------------------------------------------------- Forwarded by Eddie Fernandes ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
