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Is match-fixing creeping into Tanzanian football through player betting?
The revelations have alarmed many stakeholders and raised concerns about the credibility of domestic football.
What you need to know:
- Some players are reported to have continued betting using SIM cards registered under different names, while others, less discreet, have used their own registered numbers.
Dar es Salaam. The integrity of the Mainland Premier League has come under scrutiny amid mounting allegations that some players, referees and club officials are engaging in illegal betting activities and match-fixing.
The revelations suggest a growing betting crisis within Tanzanian football, particularly involving players from lower-tier clubs who are either actively participating in betting or being recruited to influence match outcomes.
While both FIFA and the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) have stringent rules prohibiting involvement in match betting, insiders say the practice continues with increasing sophistication.
FIFA’s Code of Ethics categorically prohibits players, coaches and football officials from participating in betting, either directly or indirectly. Article 27 of the code deems it an offence for any football stakeholder to engage in betting or related transactions involving football matches.
The regulation states: “Persons bound by this code shall be forbidden from participating, either directly or indirectly, in betting, lotteries or similar events or transactions related to football matches or competitions.”
It further prohibits individuals from holding financial interests, direct or indirect, in betting operations. Violation of this regulation carries a minimum fine of CHF 100,000 (approximately Sh328 million) and a ban of up to three years from football-related activities.
TFF’s own Regulation 41(11) mirrors FIFA’s stance and goes further, stipulating a lifetime ban for any player found guilty of fixing match results.
How the betting network operates
Despite the clear regulations, investigations by Mwanaspoti and corroborating testimonies from stakeholders indicate that players are using relatives and close associates to place bets on their behalf to avoid detection by football authorities.
“I place bets for my boyfriend, who is a player,” one woman said. “He sends me money on match days and I follow his instructions. He mostly bets on the number of goals.”
A relative of another player said he regularly receives money to place bets for his brother and occasionally for other team members. “After the match, I collect the winnings and share them with the players. I also get a small commission,” he claimed.
Some players are reported to have continued betting using SIM cards registered under different names, while others, less discreet, have used their own registered numbers.
One player from a top-four club reportedly won a significant bet but was unable to claim the winnings after the betting company flagged the transaction. Fearing sanctions, he opted not to pursue the money.
“I used to bet with my phone until I learned it could land me in trouble. Now, I use my girlfriend’s number,” a midfielder admitted.
Match-fixing from within
One defender revealed how his team, leading 3-0 in a past match, was pressured to concede a goal in the final minutes to ensure both teams scored—a condition commonly referred to in betting as ‘GG’.
“I was shocked when my teammates insisted we allow the opponents to score. Eventually, our goalkeeper made a bizarre error, letting in a goal. Everyone celebrated after the final whistle. That’s when I learned they had all bet on both teams to score,” he recounted.
Goalkeepers fired over betting links
Club officials also disclosed they had terminated contracts for two goalkeepers over suspicions of match-fixing.
“In one case, a foreign goalkeeper conceded soft goals repeatedly. Initially, we suspected bribery, but later discovered he was placing bets on our matches,” one official said. “When confronted, his manager confirmed it. We had no choice but to release him.”
Another goalkeeper, a local player on loan, allegedly allowed easy goals in a high-stakes match and was later seen with a brand-new car valued at over Sh23 million.
“We hadn’t paid his salary or signing bonus, yet he showed up with a new car,” the official added. “Investigations revealed the car was paid for by a senior official from a major club, using an intermediary.”
According to a friend of the player, the money used to purchase the car was a payout for deliberately conceding two goals in a pre-arranged bet. The goalkeeper allegedly received Sh28 million for the act.
“When we confronted him, he broke down and cried, denying the claims. But the evidence was clear. We terminated his loan and signed a replacement,” the official stated.
Referees also implicated
Referees have not been spared from the scandal. One referee, now suspended from officiating, disclosed that some of his colleagues manipulate match outcomes in cooperation with betting syndicates.
“Some referees work in groups, including assistants, to engineer results—especially in matches involving smaller teams,” he said. “It’s easier to fix draws or award soft penalties in those games.”
He cited an incident where a fellow referee lost his temper after a last-minute equaliser ruined his bet. “He was furious with the goalkeeper for conceding. He said, ‘That fool cost me my bet,’” the source recalled.
Another common tactic involves yellow cards. “I witnessed players from Yanga and Azam receiving unwarranted bookings, only to later learn the referee had bet on a specific number of yellow cards being issued before full-time,” he added.
A growing threat
The revelations have alarmed many stakeholders and raised concerns about the credibility of domestic football. Analysts warn that if not addressed decisively, betting-related malpractice could erode public confidence and jeopardise Tanzania’s football development.
Efforts to reach TFF officials for comment were unsuccessful by press time.
