South African teams receive lifetime ban for match-fixing: 59-1 result with 41 own goals

A team needed to win by 18 goals to be promoted to South Africa's second division but ended up winning 59-1, with 41 own goals from their opponents, and didn't require a detailed investigation to understand that the match was fixed.

Matiyasi FC needed a miracle to get promoted to the ABC Motsepe League (South Africa's second tier). They were in third place in the table with a far inferior goal difference to the top two and only a massive win could have given them a chance of promotion.

They needed a win by an 18-goal margin, but the match against Nsami Mighty Birds got out of control and ended 59-1 with 41 own goals.

Unsurprisingly, the African country's football watchdog authorities went in to investigate the match and concluded that it was clearly match-fixing.

Suspended for life

The punishment for both teams was a lifetime ban. However, a curious side story is that the other match where promotion was at stake also saw match-fixing take place.

Shivulani Dangerous Tigers, who had the same points as Matiyasi FC but had a better goal difference, ended their match with a 33-1 scoreline against Kototo Happy Boys.

The opposition scored seven own goals. Those two clubs have also received a lifetime ban.