Six Days to Russia: FIFA under Attack over Bribery Scandal
Football governing body, FIFA has come under attack since Kenya referee Adel Range Marwa was exposed in a bribery scandal captured in a video which surfaced online on Thursday.
The Kenyan referee who has since resigned from the World Cup referees committee was captured on camera receiving a $600 cash gift which is against FIFA ethics.
The money was for Marwa to influence the outcome of an international football match involving Ghana in the 2018 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN).
An undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas exposed Marwa, along with Ghana FA President Kwesi Nyantakyi whom FIFA has suspended for 90 days.
The video has continued to elicit reactions with some saying it was a conspiracy against African referees on FIFA duty. Others said it was a shame
“Why did the investigating journalist do this to our Aden Marwa? It doesn’t add up at all, so Fifa decided to set up Aden and eliminate him from World Cup and get at African officials.“Fifa would have tested all the referees then released an official report not just targeting one Black Referee. SO SAD,” Dennis Nyambane said on Twitter.
“Sad that Kenyan Fifa referee Aden Marwa has had to pull out of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. I have reviewed Anas’s footage (Ghanaian undercover reporter) of the alleged bribe taking and I honestly think as journo, the method used by him to news gather leaves a lot to be desired,” journalist Odeo Sirari on Twitter.
“Aden Marwa has not brought shame to Kenya, the shame was already there, he just lifted the veil and took it global. We can keep dreaming of a corrupt free Kenya or we need to look inside ourselves and awaken. “Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” – Carl Jung,” said Sam Gichuru on Twitter.
“Aden Marwa, first Kenyan to have been appointed by Fifa as an assistant referee for the World Cup 2018 has been removed after accepting a paltry us$600 (Kshs. 60,000/=) bribe from Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Ghana’s fabled incognito Investigative Journalist … What a shame. What a tragedy,” A Lawyer Donald B Kipkorir said on Twitter.
“Corruption is everywhere in Kenya this referees don’t live in heaven they live in a corrupt society,” Clarke Sumbule on Facebook.
Six African referees were chosen by FIFA to officiate in Russia. The referees make the total of 99 officials selected from 46 countries.
The African referees are: Mehdi Abid Charef from Algeria, Malang Diedhiou of Senegal, Bakary Papa Gassama from The Gambia, Gehad Grisha from Egypt, Janny Sikazwe from Zambia, and Ethiopian Bamlak Tessema Weyesa.