ISA Town Club have suspended seven of its players due to their ‘collusion’ in a match-fixing scandal that has imploded on the so-far serene soccer scene in Bahrain.
The match in question is Isa Town’s 1-0 defeat to Galali in an FA Cup clash on December 28.
Isa Town Club president Ahmed Jassim Al Akbari confirmed the suspension last night but did not reveal the names of the players.
Al Akbari said he investigated the incident and questioned one of the players in the presence of the head of football at the club and the coach.
“At first the player denied the charges, but after we put pressure on him by showing him some relevant documents and camera footage of the match, he admitted that he gave ‘some players some cash’ and that the penalty kick for Galali was fixed,” said Al Akbari.
Isa Town Club have already informed the Bahrain Football Association (BFA) and urged them to take action against the players.
BFA secretary general Ibrahim Al Buainain admitted that the association has received an official letter from Isa Town Club in this regard.
Al Buainain added that the association has temporarily suspended the players and referred the matter to a committee to “verify the club’s comments on the same subject.”
Al Buainain also made it clear that Galali Club has nothing to do with the case, saying the case involves only Isa Town Club players.