Match Fixing - Something to ponder on !!!
Match Fixing - Something to ponder on !!!
Inside Asia: Match Fixing – The Scourge Of Asian Football
In this first weekly installment of Inside Asia, Goal.com’s Joel Morrison investigates the problem of football match-fixing in the continent, and its worldwide ramifications...
Illegal Betting Rife In Asia
Benin coach Reinhard Fabisch claimed last Saturday he was approached by an Asian betting syndicate to fix the result of his team’s opening African Nations Cup match against Mali. According to the German, the man who came up to him represented a Singapore-based company which could fix games across Africa.
There seems to be truth in Fabisch’s claims.
Illegal betting has long been rife in Asia, with millions of dollars staked in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. Despite efforts by the authorities to clamp down on illegal football betting houses, the practise remains rampant. Organised crime syndicates tend to run these illegal betting rings, and in order to maximise their profits, it is no surprise that they resort to bribing players and officials to influence results.
The syndicates in Asia run a brisk and lucrative business, with football competitions played nearly all-year round globally. Popular international tournaments, such as the World Cup, European Championship and African Nations Cup, often result in a massive increase in bets. In Thailand, it is estimated that Thais bet nearly one billion dollars on the 2006 World Cup.
Meanwhile, on a local level, such lucre brings with it corruption. In the China Super League, it was once suggested that 70 to 80 percent of the referees had taken a bribe at least once.
Singapore – Hotbed For Football Corruption
Football corruption even affects Singapore, a nation which prides itself as being sleaze-free. Indeed, in its fledging professional league, the S-League, there has been a significant history of match-rigging over the years.
The league was inaugurated in 1996, yet wasted little time before succumbing to corruption. In 2000, German goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel and Australian defender Mirko Jurilj were jailed five months and received a global ban for the offence of match-fixing.
Last year, Malaysia coach Chow Kwai Lam was found guilty of attempting to influence the outcome on an S-League match in 2005. He was fined S$50,000 for ordering his team's goalkeeper to let in goals during a game.
The Singapore football authorities have introduced measures to eradicate corruption in the S-League. Pre-season briefings by anti-corruption agents, hefty penalties for those caught, and even legalised betting failed to curb the problem of match fixing.
Just three weeks ago, Chinese-owned Liaoning Guangyuan saw their general manager, Wang Xin, arrested on match-fixing charges. Several players on the team were also investigated for similar offences. Wang allegedly offered bribes to his players in an attempt to influence matches played in Singapore's domestic league. Reportedly, they were offered four-figure sums.
Liaoning’s results and performance in the league speak for themselves.
The Chinese side finished 10th out of 12 teams last season in the S-League, losing 20 out of 33 matches played. Other non-Singaporean teams in the S-League include Albirex Niigata from Japan, and the Super Reds from Korea.
Singapore's anti-corruption body, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), said that Wang Xin would appear in court on match-fixing charges.
However, he failed to turn up. Wang’s passport was initially impounded by the authorities. He applied to Singapore’s High Court for permission to return to China to settle personal matters. Embarrassingly for the authorities, he jumped bail and never returned to face charges.
An S-League club official spoke on the condition of anonymity: “There is a major problem of betting syndicates in our league. So, I’m not surprised at all to read about the Benin coach [Reinhard Fabisch] being approached.
“The members from these syndicates show up at local matches. After the game, they will strike up a conversation with our players. From there, they attempt to build up a ‘friendship’ and ask for ‘insider’ information. They will reward with the player with a cut of their profits.
“After gaining the player’s trust, they will instruct him to influence results through his performance in the matches.”
Corruption Spreads To Europe
In a gambling-mad region like Asia, illegal book-making syndicates will pay handsomely for the right result. And they’re looking for the right opportunities to get into the global game.
In 1999, an Asian betting syndicate was charged by a British court for an elaborate scam to fix the results of English Premiership football matches by tampering with the floodlights. Two Malaysians and a man of Hong Kong origin, along with a senior security guard at Charlton Athletic Football Club who was offered a £20,000 bribe, were charged in connection with the plot.
Two matches were targeted. The first match was at Upton Park in November 1997 where West Ham were playing at home to Crystal Palace. The lights went out 20 minutes into the second half just after West Ham had drawn level.
The second was a month later at Selhurst Park, where Wimbledon were playing at home to Arsenal ,and again the lights went out shortly after half-time when the scores were level.
More recently in Belgium in 2006, Chinese businessman Ye Zheyun was uncovered by federal prosecutors in Brussels to have influenced matches in the Belgian league. Thus organised crime syndicates from Asia have gained foothold and established operations in Europe.
Players and coaches who have confessed to match-rigging in Beligum said they were drawn into sex orgies and then coerced into match fixing, under threat that their wives would be told of their extra-marital activities. One coach reportedly admitted that he helped to fix two matches because he had a gun held to his head and was threatened that his daughter would be harmed if he did not comply.
Football Corruption – Scourge Without Borders
From the African Cup of Nations to the English Premiership, it is evident that football corruption can occur without any borders.
Indeed, last December UEFA confirmed a report in a German newspaper that they gave Europol a list of 26 fixtures that may have been influenced by irregular betting patterns from Asia.
Fifteen of the suspect games were played during the current season, with the other 11 between July 2005 and Nov 2006. They mostly concerned teams from eastern and southern Europe, notably Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia, but also the Baltic states in the north. The UEFAreport also detailed millions of euros being pocketed by Asian betting syndicates based on the results of the relevant games.
With the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign in Asia starting in February, there’s a real threat that the game’s credibility in the region can be destroyed by corruption. It’s up to the football authorities and relevant government agencies to prevent it from becoming a reality.
In this first weekly installment of Inside Asia, Goal.com’s Joel Morrison investigates the problem of football match-fixing in the continent, and its worldwide ramifications...
Illegal Betting Rife In Asia
Benin coach Reinhard Fabisch claimed last Saturday he was approached by an Asian betting syndicate to fix the result of his team’s opening African Nations Cup match against Mali. According to the German, the man who came up to him represented a Singapore-based company which could fix games across Africa.
There seems to be truth in Fabisch’s claims.
Illegal betting has long been rife in Asia, with millions of dollars staked in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. Despite efforts by the authorities to clamp down on illegal football betting houses, the practise remains rampant. Organised crime syndicates tend to run these illegal betting rings, and in order to maximise their profits, it is no surprise that they resort to bribing players and officials to influence results.
The syndicates in Asia run a brisk and lucrative business, with football competitions played nearly all-year round globally. Popular international tournaments, such as the World Cup, European Championship and African Nations Cup, often result in a massive increase in bets. In Thailand, it is estimated that Thais bet nearly one billion dollars on the 2006 World Cup.
Meanwhile, on a local level, such lucre brings with it corruption. In the China Super League, it was once suggested that 70 to 80 percent of the referees had taken a bribe at least once.
Singapore – Hotbed For Football Corruption
Football corruption even affects Singapore, a nation which prides itself as being sleaze-free. Indeed, in its fledging professional league, the S-League, there has been a significant history of match-rigging over the years.
The league was inaugurated in 1996, yet wasted little time before succumbing to corruption. In 2000, German goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel and Australian defender Mirko Jurilj were jailed five months and received a global ban for the offence of match-fixing.
Last year, Malaysia coach Chow Kwai Lam was found guilty of attempting to influence the outcome on an S-League match in 2005. He was fined S$50,000 for ordering his team's goalkeeper to let in goals during a game.
The Singapore football authorities have introduced measures to eradicate corruption in the S-League. Pre-season briefings by anti-corruption agents, hefty penalties for those caught, and even legalised betting failed to curb the problem of match fixing.
Just three weeks ago, Chinese-owned Liaoning Guangyuan saw their general manager, Wang Xin, arrested on match-fixing charges. Several players on the team were also investigated for similar offences. Wang allegedly offered bribes to his players in an attempt to influence matches played in Singapore's domestic league. Reportedly, they were offered four-figure sums.
Liaoning’s results and performance in the league speak for themselves.
The Chinese side finished 10th out of 12 teams last season in the S-League, losing 20 out of 33 matches played. Other non-Singaporean teams in the S-League include Albirex Niigata from Japan, and the Super Reds from Korea.
Singapore's anti-corruption body, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), said that Wang Xin would appear in court on match-fixing charges.
However, he failed to turn up. Wang’s passport was initially impounded by the authorities. He applied to Singapore’s High Court for permission to return to China to settle personal matters. Embarrassingly for the authorities, he jumped bail and never returned to face charges.
An S-League club official spoke on the condition of anonymity: “There is a major problem of betting syndicates in our league. So, I’m not surprised at all to read about the Benin coach [Reinhard Fabisch] being approached.
“The members from these syndicates show up at local matches. After the game, they will strike up a conversation with our players. From there, they attempt to build up a ‘friendship’ and ask for ‘insider’ information. They will reward with the player with a cut of their profits.
“After gaining the player’s trust, they will instruct him to influence results through his performance in the matches.”
Corruption Spreads To Europe
In a gambling-mad region like Asia, illegal book-making syndicates will pay handsomely for the right result. And they’re looking for the right opportunities to get into the global game.
In 1999, an Asian betting syndicate was charged by a British court for an elaborate scam to fix the results of English Premiership football matches by tampering with the floodlights. Two Malaysians and a man of Hong Kong origin, along with a senior security guard at Charlton Athletic Football Club who was offered a £20,000 bribe, were charged in connection with the plot.
Two matches were targeted. The first match was at Upton Park in November 1997 where West Ham were playing at home to Crystal Palace. The lights went out 20 minutes into the second half just after West Ham had drawn level.
The second was a month later at Selhurst Park, where Wimbledon were playing at home to Arsenal ,and again the lights went out shortly after half-time when the scores were level.
More recently in Belgium in 2006, Chinese businessman Ye Zheyun was uncovered by federal prosecutors in Brussels to have influenced matches in the Belgian league. Thus organised crime syndicates from Asia have gained foothold and established operations in Europe.
Players and coaches who have confessed to match-rigging in Beligum said they were drawn into sex orgies and then coerced into match fixing, under threat that their wives would be told of their extra-marital activities. One coach reportedly admitted that he helped to fix two matches because he had a gun held to his head and was threatened that his daughter would be harmed if he did not comply.
Football Corruption – Scourge Without Borders
From the African Cup of Nations to the English Premiership, it is evident that football corruption can occur without any borders.
Indeed, last December UEFA confirmed a report in a German newspaper that they gave Europol a list of 26 fixtures that may have been influenced by irregular betting patterns from Asia.
Fifteen of the suspect games were played during the current season, with the other 11 between July 2005 and Nov 2006. They mostly concerned teams from eastern and southern Europe, notably Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia, but also the Baltic states in the north. The UEFAreport also detailed millions of euros being pocketed by Asian betting syndicates based on the results of the relevant games.
With the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign in Asia starting in February, there’s a real threat that the game’s credibility in the region can be destroyed by corruption. It’s up to the football authorities and relevant government agencies to prevent it from becoming a reality.