Asiagate match-fixing scandal finality, end of July

The Zimbabwe Football Association says when they appointed the Disciplinary Ad Hoc Committee to carry out investigations pertaining to the Asiagate match-fixing scandal, they had no idea it was a complicated process but have however tentatively set the end of July for finality to be brought to the biggest scandal ever to rock Zimbabwean football, the Zbc reported on Sunday.

The football fraternity has in recent times been plunged into anxiety as stakeholders felt investigations into the Asiagate scandal were dragging on without an end in site.

The recent exoneration of 33 players by the Independent Disciplinary Ad Hoc Committee however re-ignited hope that the biggest scandal ever to hit Zimbabwean football is on the verge of being concluded.

ZIFA President, Cuthbert Dube said while the football mother-body is aware that stakeholders are anxious to know the findings of the Independent Disciplinary Ad Hoc Committee led by retired Justice Ahmed Ibrahim, bringing finality to the scandal is nevertheless a complicated exercise which they hope to achieve by the end of next month.

"When we appointed the committee we had no idea that it was a very complex process. They're meeting round the clock and by the end of July they should wrap up their investigations on the scandal," Dube said.

The Asiagate scandal has its roots in 2007 when the Zimbabwe national team started embarking on unsanctioned trips to Asia, where outcome of matches were decided by bookmakers.

Between 2007 and 2010 the Warriors became a symbol of national disgrace when they lost to global lightweights such as Oman, Malaysia and Syria.

With the Independent Disciplinary Ad hoc Committee working around the clock in an endeavour to bring closure to the biggest scandal ever to rock Zimbabwean football.

Those still implicated will in the impending weeks know their fate when the findings are made public.