The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has handed down severe penalties to two Mongolian football personnel found guilty of attempting to manipulate a match. A female referee official has been banned from all football-related activities for 10 years, while a female player received a five-year suspension.
The AFC announced the sanctions on May 7, following an extensive investigation into match-fixing and betting irregularities during the 2025/26 AFC Women’s Champions League qualification stage. The two individuals were identified as Mongolian Football Association official Munkhtsetseg Batkhuu and player Namuun Narmandakh.
The match in question took place on August 25, 2025, between Philippine side Lakas FC and Mongolian club Khovd Western. Lakas FC won 6-1.
According to the investigation, both individuals violated Article 66.1 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code for conspiring to manipulate the match outcome to influence betting activities. The AFC emphasized its zero-tolerance policy toward any form of match manipulation.
The case was part of a broader collaboration between the AFC and the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA). In 2024, the two organizations signed a four-year memorandum of understanding to enhance monitoring of suspicious betting patterns and other integrity threats in Asian football. Under the agreement, IBIA provides real-time alerts to the AFC on anomalous betting activity, enabling swift investigation into potential match-fixing.
The AFC reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the fairness and credibility of football competitions across Asia.