The two National Team players rejected the advances of a “match fixer” who approached them during the recently-concluded CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament held in the US.

National Team football players Ian Gaynair and Woodrow West have been recognized by Galen University, who presented them with the Galen Eagle Award at the university’s graduation ceremonies held at the Princess Hotel and Casino yesterday, Sunday, August 18.

In presenting the awards, Dr. Louis Zabaneh, president of Galen University, told the audience that the award recognized the men for refusing to take a bribe offered by an individual known as a “match fixer” while representing the country at the recent CONCACAF Gold Cup football tournament played in the United States.

After the men were given the awards, they received a standing ovation from the audience.

Gaynair, a midfielder who scored Belize’s only goal against the United States, and West, the team’s outstanding goalkeeper, were also recognized a few weeks ago by the president of CONCACAF and FIFA for their integrity in not taking the bribe — a practice that has bedeviled football worldwide.

The two players were invited to a banquet with the president and watched the final Gold Cup game between the United States and Costa Rica in his company.