'Players who fixed matches at AFF Cup will be severely punished'

Mr. Ahmad Azzuddin said that AFF is on high alert after the incident of four Lao players "getting involved" and is doing everything possible to prevent negative incidents from happening at AFF Cup 2016.

AFF General SecretaryAhmad Azzuddin.

"Preparations are complete, just waiting for the teams to compete," General Secretary of the Southeast Asian Football Federation (AFF) Ahmad Azzuddin took the opportunity to share with VnExpress when his phone kept ringing. "After the incident of the Lao players, we have to be more careful with the risk of match-fixing at the AFF Cup 2016. The AFF has implemented many measures simultaneously, not allowing negativity to occur."

Right before the AFF Cup 2016, Southeast Asian football was shaken when four Lao players, including goalkeeper Chintana Souksavath, defenders Saynakhonevieng Phommapanya, Moukda Souksavath and midfielder Phatthana Syvilay, were suspended by the AFC for match-fixing at the Solidarity Cup friendly tournament held in Malaysia. Steve Darby, the British coach who led the Vietnamese women's team to the 2001 SEA Games gold medal and has worked in Southeast Asia for nearly 20 years, exclaimed: "Only a fool would not worry about match-fixing at the AFF Cup 2016."

"AFF has hired a company to monitor betting and match-fixing. Reports will be sent daily. Any unusual signs will be investigated by us. In addition, AFF has also worked with police forces in the Philippines and Myanmar to closely monitor the teams," Mr. Azzuddin further revealed.

The AFF Secretary General said that the police force will follow the teams 24/7. “We do not isolate the teams. However, we will not let irregular elements bother the players. Anyone involved in negativity will receive a very heavy penalty,” the leader from Malaysia affirmed.

Mr. Azzuddin highly appreciated Vietnam at AFF Cup 2016.

Mr. Azzuddin is in Myanmar to manage Group B. The AFF Secretary General said he is eagerly awaiting the match between Malaysia and Vietnam, which he called an “early final”.

"The level of football teams in the region is getting closer, the tournament is more attractive. The good news is that FIFA recently agreed to include the AFF Cup in the scoring system. This shows that the quality of the tournament is improved, more prestigious," Mr. Azzuddin added.

AFF Cup 2016 takes place from November 19 to December 17. Vietnam is in Group B, facing host Myanmar (November 20), Malaysia (November 23) and Cambodia (November 26).

According to VNE