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by LESLIE FERNANDO

The Football Federation of Sri Lanka will hold a full scale inquiry into the allegation of match fixing between Cooray SC and Jupiters SC played on February 3 at Maris Stella College grounds Negombo.

Give me two weeks time to complete the inquiry and the decision will be announced," said Manilal Fernando, the Chairman of the Competition Committee at a press conference held at the Football House at Reid Avenue Monday.

"No committee has yet met regarding this issue. Several false reports have been published (not in ANCL Group) in connection with this important matter. No opinion could not be given without a complete inquiry. Being the Chairman of the Competition Committee I have been given the authority to go deep into the matter. I earnestly request those concerned to stop publishing false reports get the actual facts from reliable sources has added Fernando.

In the preliminary round, a 'prime-facie' case to be investigated on this issue. The Premier League Soccer Championships 2001-2002 (guide) rule 9 clearly indicates on intentional defeats", no club shall deliberately field a 'reservist team i.e. a team not at full strength, no club shall wilfully give away the match to its opponent. However, if the Competition Committee, through its own observation and study finds a club guilty of giving away a match, the offending club shall be liable for disciplinary action such as a fine or removal from further participation in the championships.

The Competition Committee, the Disciplinary Committee headed by DIG Gamini Randeni, the President of the FFSL will meet soon. The Competition Committee has been vested with full powers and the committee will take into account two protest letters sent by Negombo Youth SC and Sri Lanka Army SC, the two explanation letters from Jupiters SC and Cooray SC together with the reports from match referee and the match commissioner.

Fernando said that he has received reports from match referee and match commissioner confidentially. He read some part of the match commissioner report (Col. C. S. Fernando was the match commissioner) ... 'match looks arranged.'

Friendly matches

Pakistan and the Maldives national teams have accepted the FFSL invitation to play friendly international matches in March-April according to Manilal Fernando.

Pakistan soccerites will play three matches with Sri Lanka in Kurunegala, Colombo and Kalutara, while two other games will be between the National XI and Under-20 national team in Colombo and Kandy from March 17 to 26.

Maldives will play two matches with Sri Lanka in Colombo in the first week of April. 

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