K. Kannan

Kuniuraman Kannan (sometimes spelt Kunjuraman Kannan), more popularly known as K. Kannan, is a Singaporean football forward who played for Singapore. He was in the Singapore squad in the 1984 Asian Cup. He also played for Jurong Town. He was known for always missing the goal and blasting his shots over the crossbar.

This article is about the Singaporean footballer. For the Malaysian footballer, see Kannan Kalaiselvan.

In this Indian name, the name Kuniuraman is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Kannan.
K. Kannan
Personal information
Full name Kuniuraman Kannan
Place of birth Singapore
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980 Jurong Town
1981–1985 Singapore FA
1986–1987 Kuala Lumpur FA
1988 Singapore FA
1989–1991 Kuala Lumpur FA
1992 Singapore FA
1993 Geylang International FC
1994 Changi United
International career
1980–1991 Singapore
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

In the Malaysia Cup tournament, Kannan has played for Singapore FA (debuting in 1981)[1] and Kuala Lumpur FA.[2]

Kannan was named the Player of the Year in FAS Premier League 1992 season while playing for Geylang International. He then signed a record S$120,000 contract to play for Changi United.[3]

Match-fixing

Following widespread rumours about corruption within the sports among the teams who played in the Malaysia Premier League (MPL), the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) launched an investigation and had interviewed multiple players, including Kannan. On 24 October 1994, Kannan and Changi United Club manager Ong Kheng Hock was arrested for match fixing at the recent MPL season.[3] On instructions from a businessman, Rajendran R. Kupusamy. They were faced three charges for allegedly trying to fix two MPL matches by bribing goalkeeper David Lee as while as receiving rewards for their actions. In the first match against Perlis, Lee was offered S$80,000 and he was to help reduce the winning margins by Singapore. Singapore won 2-1 in that match. In the second match against, Selangor, Lee was offered S$60,000 to ensure that the game would end up in a draw. Singapore won 3-1 in that match instead. Lee was not charged with any crimes.[4][5]

Rejendran was named as the witness in this case.[5] In the seven-day long trial, Lee testified that he was not aware of the matching fixing plans.[6] Kannan and Ong was found guilty of conspiring and bribery, and were jailed and fined.[7] Football Association of Singapore also had banned Kannan, and other players involved in corruption and match-fixing for life from the sports.[8]

Over the years, Kannan would file five appeals to the FAS, appealing to them to remove the ban against him. However, they were largely unsuccessful until in 2022 when FAS decided to lift the ban after reviewing his fifth attempt.[9] One of his release conditions was to participate in anti-corruption drives and engagements for six months from when the ban was lifted.[9]

Personal life

Kannan is married with 3 children.[5]

References
  1. "Kannan in team against Basle". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
  2. "Discard Kannan lands three-year contract with KL". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
  3. Miller, David (25 October 1994). "Ex-national striker, club manager nabbed". The Straits Times. p. 1.
  4. Yaw, Yan Chong (25 October 1994). "Kannan 'agreed to bribe David Lee'". The New Paper. pp. 8–9.
  5. Teo, Ginnie (26 October 1994). "Ong and Kannan accused of offering bribes to fix matches". The Straits Times. p. 1.
  6. "I did not know of any match-fixing : David Lee". The Straits Times. 16 March 1995. p. 26.
  7. "Soccer corruption : Ong, Kannan guilty". The Straits Times. 26 March 1995. p. 1.
  8. "Life ban for guilty, reaffirms FAS". The New Paper. 3 February 1995. p. 55.
  9. "FAS lifts lifetime bans on former national footballer K Kannan and former FIFA referee Thiru Rajamanickam". CNA. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
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