S-League: Geylang's Yazid lauded for tackling corruption

Shockwaves reverberated through the local football fraternity on Friday, when news broke that two former S-League players were imprisoned for corruption.

The South Korean pair of Kim Jae Hong and Jeon Byung Euk, both formerly of Geylang United, were jailed 10 months and five months respectively for offering bribes to two current Geylang players - goalkeeper Yazid Yasin and forward Mun Seung Man - in an attempt to fix the S-League fixture between Harimau Muda and Geylang on May 1.

Yazid reported it to the authorities and he made it clear that he would do the same if he was ever approached again.

Said Yazid: "I thought it was a prank at first, but when money was mentioned during the phone conversation, I knew it was serious. I couldn't believe this was actually happening, and I was disappointed, but I had to do the right thing and I'd do this every single time."

While it is clear that no football league can completely rid itself of the match-fixing scourge, both Yazid and Geylang general manager Lim Tong Hai believe that there are systems in place here that do protect the fraternity.

From pre-season talks by anti-corruption authorities to random polygraph tests throughout the year, the S-League has taken preventive measures.

Local professionals earn less than their European and even Asian counterparts. The average local footballer is paid between S$2,500 and S$4,000, while salaries of national players fall in the higher bracket of S$4,000 to S$8,000, with fringe players at clubs with smaller budgets taking home as little as S$1,000.

But Yazid insists being lowly paid is no excuse for a player to succumb to match-fixing. He said: "It's really not how much you're getting paid, but how you manage your money. In the end it comes down to your integrity and professionalism."

Yazid's act has earned him plaudits from his peers and fans alike, with LionsXII vice-captain Hariss Harun urging younger footballers to follow his example.

"Match-fixing is a serious matter affecting football, and what Yazid did speaks volumes of the person that he is. He could have simply taken the money, but he chose to do the right thing," said Hariss, 21.

"It's really disappointing that (match-fixing) is still happening here, but Yazid is now an example to young footballers, who will hopefully know what to do if and when they are approached.

"Maybe then we'll be able to keep match-fixing under control."

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