Players’ homes raided by police
El Salvador’s national soccer team investigated for match-fixing
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador El Salvador authorities raided the homes of 11 players on Thursday after the country’s football federation suspended 22 players in an investigation into alleged match-fixing in games by the national team, including against the United States and Mexico.
Public prosecutors said the raids took place in six cities. Federal prosecutor Luis Martinez told Radio Nacional de El Salvador that computers, electronic tablet devices and cellphones were among the items seized during the raids.
He said authorities will also try to gain access to the bank accounts of those involved, both locally and abroad in what is an embarrassment for the country.
The prosecutor said there was already evidence of at least three offences, including money laundering, and warned that not only players could be charged in the scheme.
“Possibly there are officials and some high-level people involved,” Martinez said. “We are going to get to the bottom of it.”
He said the investigation is separate from the one started by the local federation, which on Wednesday said the players who participated in the suspect matches will be suspended for 30 days as the allegations are investigated.
“This is not a punishment. These are provisional, precautionary measures,” Federation President Carlos Mendez Cabezas said.
The CONCACAF, the sport’s continental governing body, said it was fully behind the investigation in El Salvador.
“CONCACAF is deeply saddened by these claims of match manipulation within the football community,” it said in a statement. “The confederation fully supports the football federation of El Salvador and other pertinent organizations involved in the above mentioned investigation and hopes for a fair due process in order to determine the validity of these accusations.”
It added that the fight against match-manipulation was a top priority for the sport’s organizers.
“In alignment with FIFA guidelines and in line with CONCACAF’s commitment to ensure the legitimacy of each game played throughout the region, it is our duty to fight against organized crime alongside all stakeholders involved,” CONCACAF said.
Mendez Cabezas said the games under scrutiny include El Salvador’s 5- 0 Gold Cup loss to Mexico on July 5, 2011, as well as a 2-1 loss to the United States on Feb. 24, 2010, a 1-0 loss to D.C. United on July 19, 2010, and a 4-1 loss to Paraguay on Feb. 6, 2012. He said FIFA has been notified so that the suspensions could be extended internationally.
He also said El Salvador will play no more games until the probes into the matches are completed. Martinez said he has already sought collaboration from authorities in other countries where match fixing has taken place.