Is Indonesia new target of football match-fixers?

They thought nobody would notice them.

Four men suspected of being part of a Singapore-Malaysia match-fixing syndicate entered Indonesia on numerous occasions in April and May last year.

Despite their attempts to be discreet, the three Malaysians and a Singaporean were already under surveillance, a sports corruption investigator told The New Paper about two months ago.

Mr Michael Pride of UK-based Sport Data Group, said: “Source information suggested that the group had allegedly been linked to two fixed matches in the Indonesian Super League."

While last year’s incursion by the Singapore-Malaysia syndicate may be shocking, Indonesian football is rife with corruption, say prominent figures in Indonesian football scene.

A recent report by Save Our Soccer, a non-governmental group based in Jakarta, shows cases of alleged bribery, misuse of government funds, sporting advantage, interference by political parties and illegal betting syndicates over a 10-year period.