A storm has erupted in Afghan football as several former players have stepped forward, alleging the involvement of Mohammad Kargar, the president of Afghanistan’s football federation, in orchestrating match-fixing during a men’s tournament in Malaysia.
The accusations, made by former players including Djelaludin Sharityar and goalkeeper Aimal Gerowal, paint a troubling picture of Kargar collaborating with notorious match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal and Dan Tan.
The alleged fixing aimed to manipulate the outcomes of matches against Nepal and Sierra Leone during the 2008 Merdeka tournament in Malaysia.
These allegations resurface following Fifa’s lifetime ban in October 2019 on Mohammad Salim Israfeel Kohistani and six other internationals after a lengthy investigation involving matches targeted for manipulation by Singapore-based match-fixer Perumal.
Former players from the Afghanistan squad claim that Kargar was also part of a plan orchestrated by Perumal and Tan, with each player promised $2,500 for their participation.
Sharityar, the former captain, revealed his confrontation with Kargar, expressing concern over the potential fallout of fixing matches on Afghanistan’s progress in football.
“Please don’t do it,” Sharityar implored, highlighting the strides made by the team in recent years. However, Kargar allegedly remained resolute, claiming everything had been arranged.
The gravity of the situation led Sharityar to throw a chair in frustration before storming out of the meeting. Another player, preferring anonymity, detailed Kargar’s intimidation tactics when he refused to partake.
The player claimed Kargar threatened repercussions for his family in Afghanistan if he didn’t comply.
Kargar vehemently denied these accusations, attributing them to individuals outside Afghanistan seeking to tarnish the country’s footballing reputation.
Despite his denials, multiple players, including Gerowal, identified Perumal and Tan’s presence in a meeting held in Kargar’s room on the day of the match, where money was reportedly placed on the table.
The involvement of the Germany-based players, who refused to participate, led them to be sidelined during the match against Nepal.
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They alleged hearing Kargar issuing instructions during the game, seemingly coordinating the desired outcome.
The aftermath saw threats directed at Gerowal when he expressed intentions to report Kargar to Fifa.
Additionally, players claimed Kargar had arranged for a significant loss against Sierra Leone, but Hafizullah Qadami defied orders, scoring a goal that altered the planned outcome.
The complexity and depth of these allegations extend beyond the 2008 tournament, with previous admissions of match-fixing by the Afghanistan captain Islam Amiri during the same event.
Despite the seriousness of these accusations, Sharityar expressed disappointment at the lack of action from Fifa following his public disclosures.
The hope for change and accountability within Afghan football remains unfulfilled, as players await the recognition and repercussions for those allegedly involved in tarnishing the sport’s integrity.
