Kathmandu

After arrest of national footballers, police in dilemma on which law applies to match-fixing

After arrest of national footballers, police in dilemma on which law applies to match-fixing

By THT Online

Five football players, masked and handcuffed, brought out of the Metropolitan Police Crime Division office after their arrest for match-fixing, in Teku of Kathmandu on Thursday, October 15, 2015. Photo: Udipt Singh Chhetry

KATHMANDU: Police are still in dilemma which laws would be applied to file case against the Nepal national team footballers, who were arrested for their alleged involvement in match-fixing in national and international games and their alleged nexus with bookies. Nepal does not have specific laws on match-fixing. Perhaps, this is the first time national players have been arrested on the charge. It has been learned that officials at the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) are discussing which of the existing laws would be applied in such cases. A police team fanned out from MPCD on Wednesday apprehended national foot team captain Sagar Thapa, vice-captain Sandip Rai, goalkeeper Ritesh Thapa, former national defender Bikash Singh Chhetri,  and former national player and former coach of Three Star Club Anjan KC. According to a source, they will be produced before the Kathmandu District Court after the Dashain festival as the court has already been closed for the festive holidays. They have been kept at the MPCD custody. ANFA suspends arrestees “We are dumbfounded by the news. We are ready to cooperate with the police and court to investigate into the matter,' All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) said. ANFA further informed that the arrested players would be suspended from all football-related activities until the investigation concludes. READ ALSO