By Dipo Olowookere
The former Chairman of the Delta State Football Association (DSFA), Mr Edema Fuludu, has charged the Nigerian government, as well as other nations in Africa, to regulate sports betting.
In an interview with SportsBoom, the 1994 winner of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) also emphasised the need for the league management systems and sports stakeholders to step up and try to curb the real actors of sports indulging in sports betting.
According to him, if urgent steps are not taken by the relevant stakeholders, the sporting industry could lose its relevance because of the activities of bookmakers.
The impact of betting on sports
He lamented that betting, like a canker, has eaten deep into the sports system in Africa, and such misdemeanour has rubbed off, denying football and sports authenticity, warning that if steps are then not taken to curb players, football managers, officials and the likes getting involved, then there is a problem, a big one at that.
So, when quizzed on the influences he thinks the springing up and establishment of several sports betting companies in Nigeria and Africa at large has had on sports, the former head coach of Warri Wolves said, “I’m so worried that it has eaten so deep, so deep that sometimes we who are match commissioners will complain to the NPFL, the League organisers that look, we must be able to do something regarding finding the players, coaches or even owners that bet on games.”
“If these people who are the participants begin to wager on results, then the game is in jeopardy,” he added.
Betting strictly only for sports fans
Essentially, sports betting platforms like the Nearest Edge platform should only be for the fans. By being fans and not working in any aspect of the sport but merely loving and enjoying what these sports actors do, they can enjoy that luxury.
“But those who are fans, who are enjoying themselves, it’s giving them money as well as losing money — it’s all part of winning and playing the game. When they go to the stadiums and cheer their favourite players and teams, they do so knowing well they have something to show for it.
“They enjoy it, and I mean it brings more people to get into the system. And it generates funds for the organisers of the betting companies. However, we must find a way to curb players getting involved.
“We’ve had reports where players in a league game were compromised, to lose games, to cause penalties, to concede first corner kicks, to do stuff within certain minutes of the game. Sometimes, even referees get involved. It’s crazy, but these things have to stop,” he said.
“There is a need for an ethics committee that will involve the EFCC, the ICPC, the police, get these guys in it and let them do the job of investigating. Of course, if I’m a coach, and I get to hear that you as a player is into betting then you have no business in my team,” the football administrator added.
The large task of fighting this evil
“It is a big job battling this, but someone’s got to do it. We need to find a way to see these things are not part of our system. Maybe it is difficult to stop it totally, but if we’re able to say no to it, it should not continue,” he further stated.