Match Fixing in European Soccer?

Jontro · Feb 4, 2013

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1326556/investigation-unveils-scale-of-match-fixing?cc=4716

An investigation has uncovered allegations of match-fixing in around 380 games across Europe.

AP
Europol reveals its findings of a probe into match-dixing
Europol said the joint investigation had also identified about 425 corrupt officials, players and serious criminals in 15 countries.

The 380 matches included fixtures from World Cup and European Championship qualifying games, Champions League ties and top-flight league matches in several European countries.

Speaking in The Hague on Monday, Europol director Rob Wainwright said the investigation uncovered "match-fixing activity on a scale we have not seen before".

"This is the work of a suspected organised crime syndicate based in Asia and operated with criminal networks around Europe," he said.

"It is clear to us this is the biggest-ever investigation into suspected match-fixing in Europe.

"It has yielded major results which we think have uncovered a big problem for the integrity of football in Europe. We have uncovered an extensive criminal network."

Wainwright said the investigation had uncovered €8 million in betting profits and €2 million in bribes to players and officials and had already led to several prosecutions.
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Any ideas on which teams, officials, or players participated? This reminds me of the England v Germany World Cup tie.

Somehow I know Sepp Blatter will do all he can to hinder any progress in this investigation.

AroundTheWorld · Feb 4, 2013

I doubt that many, if any, star players will be involved. Some referees - yes, definitely. And I think we will mostly be looking at players with connections to Eastern Europe. Very curious to find out some names.

Jontro · Feb 4, 2013

AroundTheWorld said: ↑

I doubt that many, if any, star players will be involved. Some referees - yes, definitely. And I think we will mostly be looking at players with connections to Eastern Europe. Very curious to find out some names.
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True. Any profits they would make would be diminished by the cost of bribing star players. So that's out of the question.

I also think the Italians are holding their breaths. I wonder if these fixings are for high profile matches, though if what you say is true with ties to Eastern Europe, then probably not.

I'm most curious about the World Cup fixtures though. Because all of their games (with the exception of North Korea lulz) are high profile.

AroundTheWorld · Feb 4, 2013

Jontro said: ↑

I also think the Italians are holding their breaths. I wonder if these fixings are for high profile matches, though if what you say is true with ties to Eastern Europe, then probably not.
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Agreed, Italy is probably involved - historically, there have been issues there. Could be some teams/referees from almost all countries. Scary and annoying.

leroy · Feb 4, 2013

When you look at the shear number of professional teams in Europe and in the entire world, odds are you're going to get some shady people involved.

I swear...if we have to go through another World Cup having to constantly hear how the Italian team is "persevering" despite yet another cheating scandal in their leagues, I'm not going to watch.

bobmarley · Feb 4, 2013

leroy said: ↑

When you look at the shear number of professional teams in Europe and in the entire world, odds are you're going to get some shady people involved.

I swear...if we have to go through another World Cup having to constantly hear how the Italian team is "persevering" despite yet another cheating scandal in their leagues, I'm not going to watch.
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I still will.

DrLudicrous · Feb 4, 2013

Jontro said: ↑

I'm most curious about the World Cup fixtures though. Because all of their games (with the exception of North Korea lulz) are high profile.
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The wording of that sentence isn't 100% clear but I think they were just world cup qualifiers.

hooroo · Feb 4, 2013

AroundTheWorld said: ↑

I doubt that many, if any, star players will be involved. Some referees - yes, definitely. And I think we will mostly be looking at players with connections to Eastern Europe. Very curious to find out some names.
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"This is the work of a suspected organised crime syndicate based in Asia and operated with criminal networks around Europe," he said.
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Indian bookmakers have become a high-profile problem in international sports in the last 15 or so years. They're bankrolled by very wealthy and powerful individuals.

leroy · Feb 4, 2013

bobmarley said: ↑

I still will.
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Yeah...I will, too.

ferrari77 · Feb 4, 2013

I'm 100% sure this match was one of them and I'm sure Ajax fans would agree.

Olympique Lyon produced one of the greatest Champions League comebacks of all time, thrashing Dinamo Zagreb 7-1 last night ( December 7, 2011) with Bafetimbi Gomis scoring four goals. Ajax lost 3-0 to Real Madrid, and Lyon’s heavy margin of victory saw them qualify at Ajax’s expense. However the ease with which Lyon scored the goals in the second half has led to a question being asked around- Was the Dinamo Zagreb-Lyon match fixed?
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http://www.soccer-blogger.com/2011/...a-wink-video-gomis-2011-champions-league-1-7/

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Dc4tJbbamks" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9N1jFhc5Gm8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Luckyazn · Feb 4, 2013

So in Soccer you just bet against the public?

Jontro · Feb 5, 2013

OK so now Liverpool is being investigated for CL match they participated in? If true, it's not even their fault. Article said Debrecen goalie was told to let in 3 goals against LFC, but he only let 1 in. Looks like he didn't accept the bribe, but Pool still won anyway. Don't know why they're investigating Pool. This Suarez hate is getting out of hand.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1327163/liverpool-game-allegedly-under-match-fixing-investigation?cc=4716

Liverpool have been thrust into a worldwide match-fixing scandal, with reports emerging that European law enforcement agency Europol are investigating Hungarian side Debrecen after a 2009 Champions League clash.

Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet stated on Monday evening that sources within Europol had confirmed to them that Debrecen were under investigation for their 1-0 loss at Anfield in a group stage match. It is said goalkeeper Vukasin Poleksic was approached to let in at least three goals in order to trigger an 'over 2.5 goals' bet, but on the night Dirk Kuyt's strike was all that separated the teams.

Further to the report, Poleksic received a two-year ban from UEFA for failing to report a match-fixing approach later in the group stage when the Hungarians went down 4-3 to Fiorentina. The Daily Telegraph newspaper claims German police have already established that match was subject to match-fixing from a Croatian-led crime syndicate.

There have been no reports linking Liverpool to any wrongdoing in their fixture, and the club say they have had no official contact from the authorities.

"Liverpool Football Club has not been contacted by anyone from Europol or Uefa in relation to this matter," a club statement said.

The Football Association echoed those sentiments, claiming they are not aware of any matches in England which may be under investigation at present.

"The FA are not aware of any credible reports into suspicious Champions League fixtures in England, nor has any information been shared with us," it said.

Meanwhile, FIFA's head of security and a former Interpol official, Ralf Mutschke, has called for harsh sentences for anyone found guilty in this match-fixing scandal.

"Match-fixing and match-manipulation is a global problem and is not going to go away tomorrow," he explained in the Guardian. Mutschke added that "a member of the football family" can be banned for life by FIFA, while "for people outside of football, the custodial sentences are too weak, and offer little to deter someone from getting involved in match-fixing".
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mirus · Feb 5, 2013

Jontro said: ↑

OK so now Liverpool is being investigated for CL match they participated in? If true, it's not even their fault. Article said Debrecen goalie was told to let in 3 goals against LFC, but he only let 1 in. Looks like he didn't accept the bribe, but Pool still won anyway. Don't know why they're investigating Pool. This Suarez hate is getting out of hand.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1327163/liverpool-game-allegedly-under-match-fixing-investigation?cc=4716
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There's no direct mentioning on FIFA will investigate Liverpool

Jontro · Feb 5, 2013

^^I misread that article. I got defensive and thought they were investigating LFC, but they're actually investigating the other team.

I don't think FIFA is investigating, but rather Europol is. First time ever hearing about them when I read the first article.

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