Suspended FIFA referee Stephen Adeya’s name has surfaced prominently in a viral online clip, where the former match official is alleged to be involved in facilitating match manipulation.In the video shared on Facebook and circulated in various football forums, a contact believed to belong to Adeya appears to be assuring an unidentified individual that he is well-connected and has several teams they can work with.The messages further show the former match official planning to arrange a video call with three referees, purportedly to predetermine the outcome of a Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) match between Murang’a Seal and Mara Sugar.##NAJAVA_MECA_8466810##The game held back in September at St Sebastian Park, ended in a 1-1 draw, with Titus Kapchanga scoring for the hosts and Mike Isabwa for Mara Sugar.“What is the plan about the weekend’s games? Are you ready to work? I have so many teams we can work with,” reads part of Adeya’s WhatsApp conversation.“So, let’s plan for Sunday: Murang’a vs. Mara Sugar. I’ll bring three referees on a video call so that we can talk,” he continues.##NAJAVA_MECA_8466792##”We can have a video tomorrow at 8 a.m. with the referees. The game will be Murang’a vs. Mara Sugar,” Adeya affirms to his contact in the conversation.The clip also references Gor Mahia’s first defeat of the season to Nairobi City Stars, where K’Ogalo lost 2-1.At the time of writing FKF admitted not being in possession of the video, with further investigations set to be conducted on the matter. Robinson Asenwa and Denis Oalo scored in the second half, overturning an early strike by Levin Odhiambo for Gor.Why Ghost consider’s Victor Wanyama the top professional player in KenyaThe conversation captures Adeya assuring his investor that the game will produce three goals in regulation time. After the match, the investor praises Adeya for his “good” manipulation, to which Adeya responds, “And I tell you, I have Gor Mahia players.””Gor will give 2.5 full-time any side, but if they can’t score, they will concede three goals,” Adeya assures.Adeya was one of five individuals suspended in May after allegedly being involved in match-fixing during a Kenyan Premier League game between FC Talanta and Nairobi City Stars at Kenyatta Stadium, which City Stars won 3-0.Others suspended by FKF included Meshack Omondi, Jacqueline Barongo, former Talanta goalkeeper Kevin Omondi, and Kibra United team manager Abdulkarim Amele.Most candidates to attend tonight’s FKF Presidential debateThis incident adds to previous integrity concerns around Kenyan match officials, with fans closely watching how the federation will respond.The FKF has previously taken action against officials over similar issues; in 2021, referees Raymond Onyango, Samuel Mwaura, Isaac Memusi, Collins Opiyo, and Japheth Juma were banned.In 2023, top-tier referees Tony Kidiya, Nyabera Libese, Boniface Gikonyo, and Hassan Omondi faced similar accusations.On May 25 2022, FIFA expelled Zoo FC from the top-flight league due to match-fixing.
