Players warned of match-fixers as Thailand take on Singapore
Thailand are set to launch their campaign to reclaim the Asean Championship title when they take on title-holders and four-time champions Singapore in a Group B clash today amid concerns about match-fixing and gambling that is predicted to hit over Bt200
On the eve of the match at Singapore’s newly-built National Stadium, which can hold 55,000 spectators, the Asean Football Federation (AFF) held a team manager’s meeting with representatives from betting-monitoring company Sportradar in a bid to implement measures to stop match-fixing in the biennial competition.
Thai team manager Kasem Jariyawatwong said the AFF hired the Swiss company after anticipating gambling would be rampant during an event running until December 20.
“According to Sportradar, gambling during the Fifa World Cup finals reached US$6.3 trillion, while it was a minimum US$6 million for each Thai Premier League match,” Kasem said. “They estimated that US$6.5 million, or more than Bt200 million, would be spent during the event [the Asean Championship].
“I told the players that the punishment is severe in Singapore, with anyone being found guilty of rigging the result facing either a fine of S$100,000, or Bt2.5 million, or a seven-year prison term or both. As a preventive measure, we will not allow them to make any contact with people outside the team.”
After the manager’s meeting, the Thais’ preparation plan for the game, a repeat of the 2012 final, was disrupted after hosts Singapore did not let them train at the match venue, citing the pitch was not ready for use.
“We should have got a chance to train at the venue a day before the match as planned. But, the organisers said the ground was not ready and they would allow only a walk around the pitch. I told them we wanted to train, not inspect the field. I also asked Malaysia and Myanmar [the other two teams in the group] whether it was okay for them not to train. Both teams didn’t accept it but the hosts persisted and would not let us train.
“They insisted to keep the pitch for the match only. We could not do anything because we just came to know about it after the meeting at midday. We decided to train elsewhere,” said Kasem.
Thai captain Adul Lahsoh believed his team was ready for the game against opponents who beat them 3-2 over two legs to seal their record fourth title two years ago.
“We’re totally ready for the event. Although Singapore are one of the title favourites, I still believe we could achieve our target, which is to claim at least a point,” said the Chonburi FC midfielder.
It was expected the Thai side would field mostly the same team that beat New Zealand 2-0 in their last warm-up match, with Suphanburi FC midfielder Charyl Chappuis likely to be the only change in place of BEC Tero Sasana’s Tanaboon Kasarat should he shake off a knock.
Channel 7 will televise the match live from 7pm.
