FKF suspends Patrick Matasi over match-fixing claims

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has provisionally suspended goalkeeper Patrick Matasi for 90 days over match-fixing allegations, pending an investigation.

FKF stated that it is working in collaboration with FIFA, CAF, and other relevant authorities to probe the matter.

“The decision was made in accordance with Section VII (2) of the FKF Anti-Match Manipulation Regulations (2016) and has been formally communicated to both Kakamega Homeboyz FC and the player.

The federation remains committed to upholding integrity in football and ensuring a fair and transparent process for all parties involved. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses,” read an FKF statement.

The suspension follows the circulation of a viral video on Thursday, allegedly showing Matasi discussing plans to fix a football match.

However, Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula said Matasi has denied any involvement.

“When the first video emerged on Wednesday night, I sent it to him, and his response was that he knows nothing about it. Today (Thursday) morning, I shared the second part with him, but he has said that is not him in the video. He is shocked by the videos,” said Shimanyula.

Kakamega Homeboyz Team Manager Boniface Imbezi echoed similar sentiments.

“He (Matasi) was in training today. I asked him about the video, and he firmly maintained that he is not the one in it. We have advised him to continue staying off social media, as he has done since joining our club, and remain focused on his training.”

Repeated attempts to contact Matasi were unsuccessful, as his phone was unreachable.

In the first video, a person purported to be Matasi is seen sitting inside a vehicle, listening to instructions from an unseen individual on how to manipulate a match.

“I repeat again before my boss. This is the first deal, I beg you. You know how we have done business. I have never let you down, and you have never let me down.

My business with you is zero failure. Whatever will be given to me, I will forward it to you. Immediately I do that, I will give you a phone call, and the boss will confirm you have received, then the deal is on. That first half, bro, what we want must happen,” says the unseen individual.

In another video, the same individual allegedly discusses match-fixing details with two other unseen persons.

“Let me ask you something Matasi, can you promise us that first-half two goals? Us, we don’t need anything else. First-half two goals.

And why we are asking you to concede is because (a second voice interjects) we will open the match. When you concede, you open the game. If the game goes to 20 minutes without a goal, the game is locked. But if you concede early, before the game becomes hot, everyone will know we have conceded, and the team will fight back.”

The person alleged to be Matasi then responds:

“So what I’ll do… you know all this will happen with what I will talk to the defender because the first like 10 minutes is just….”

Despite the allegations, Shimanyula said the club will not take action against Matasi unless the videos are verified.

“We don’t even know if it is a camera trick. As a club, we cannot act on rumors or videos that we cannot ascertain their authenticity. Matasi has played three matches and performed well. We don’t have a problem if the coach fields him in this weekend’s match (against KCB),” said Shimanyula.

Matasi has previously been under scrutiny for costly errors at both club and national team levels. He was heavily criticized following Kenya’s 4-1 loss to Cameroon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group J qualifier in Yaoundé.

He also came under fire for conceding soft goals during Kenya Police FC’s loss to Egyptian giants Zamalek in the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round.

The goalkeeper joined Kakamega Homeboyz in February from Kenya Police FC and has also played for AFC Leopards, Posta Rangers, Tusker, and Ethiopian club Saint George.