Liberia FA suspends coach Benfelix over match-fixing allegations
Benfelix allegedly said he would do anything to help his former club avoid relegation.
Liberia.- Wologizi FC head coach Jasper Benfelix has been suspended by the Liberia Football Association (LFA) amid a match-fixing investigation tied to the second division season’s final games.
Benfelix, who was recently celebrated for guiding his team to the division title, is now facing allegations of match manipulation and breaches of the league’s code of conduct.
The coach was accused of posting a message in a WhatsApp group suggesting he would “do anything” to help his former club, Nimba Kwado, avoid relegation. The timing of the message became even more suspicious when Wologizi lost a crucial match against Nimba Kwado, allowing the team to escape the drop zone.
The suspicious nature of the loss raised questions, prompting the LFA to forward the case to its disciplinary committee.
With the new development, Benfelix will not be able to participate in any LFA-sanctioned events until a verdict is reached. However, the LFA noted that the suspension is a temporary measure and should not be taken as an indication of guilt.
The association said: “The decision is in line with the LFA’s commitment to maintain the integrity of the game. We take these allegations very seriously and will take the necessary steps to ensure fairness and transparency remain at the heart of Liberian football.”
A guilty verdict could result in severe penalties for Benfelix, including a lengthy ban from football. This was the case in Ghana, where three match officials recently received lifetime bans for fixing matches.
Alongside Benfelix, the LFA also handed down immediate provisional suspensions to four referees, including Koffa Doe, Thomas N. Konah, Julius Pongay and Emmanuel Tarley. The referees also face allegations of match manipulation and have been prohibited from engaging in any LFA-related activities while the investigation is ongoing.
