Inside Asia: Match Fixing – The Scourge Of Asian Football

[dave nz]

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.

Joel Morrison

[ZoomVT]

good article dave.

not to be an asshole, but i have been of the idea that underdeveloped countries (soccer-wise), have to play a preliminary round and limit their access to the world cup finals. There are a lot of slots open for countries that have no fighting chance in the tournament, while other countries have to fight for limited spots against the best of the best.

[dave nz]

Originally Posted by ZoomVT

good article dave.

Yeah Zoom wasn't a bad read.

Originally Posted by ZoomVT

not to be an asshole, but i have been of the idea that underdeveloped countries (soccer-wise), have to play a preliminary round and limit their access to the world cup finals. There are a lot of slots open for countries that have no fighting chance in the tournament, while other countries have to fight for limited spots against the best of the best.

I strongly disagree with you here. While I can see your point, you need to think long term. There is only one way the lessor nations will get better and that is to be exposed to the best and learn from the best. You deny them that chance and it makes it tough for them to progress. This applies in all sports. To give an example in football (soccer) take a team like Japan 20 years ago they were very insignificant. Now look at them by being given privlages such as hosting a World Cup and greater exposure against the best, their game has progressed significantly.

[revnecro1273]

Originally Posted by ZoomVT

good article dave.

not to be an asshole, but i have been of the idea that underdeveloped countries (soccer-wise), have to play a preliminary round and limit their access to the world cup finals. .

so would that put latin america into the mix then? they have several countries with awesome football teams, but the countries tend to be underdevloped, which would fit into your scheme...would you even think about making brazil, mexico, and argentina do such a thing?

[dave nz]

Originally Posted by revnecro1273

so would that put latin america into the mix then? they have several countries with awesome football teams, but the countries tend to be underdevloped, which would fit into your scheme...would you even think about making brazil, mexico, and argentina do such a thing?

Rev think he means underdeveloped soccer wise

[Wellahiya]

yesterday i saw an offered bet for African Nations Football:

Hometeam pays 3.6
Roadteam pays 5.4
Draw pays 1.78

when i saw that, the first thing that came to my mind wasnt 'i smell value'... i thought: 'hello betting mafia'

[Wellahiya]

oh, it was Tunesia vs Angola (3.05/1.96/6.00) now...

[LAyZbOi]

Everything in Soccer is fixed especially the cup games and all the leagues in Asia. In Europe its the same thing especially in Italy and Germany. EPL and Spanish are better but when there is a ton of money involved anything goes. Just look at the World Cup last year, i never knew losing a match you would see so many teams happy. I remember watching the england vs porturgal match, as soon as rooney went down with the red card the score knotted at 1-1, they opened the in game betting at levels/half for portugal, i pounded england and the under which went into penalty kicks and dumb me went with my heart and played england in penalties and that took all my winnings from earlier. Did you know that everyday in China there are approximately 100 million rmb wagered in games daily mostly soccer ( I remember the most i wagered in one night was about 500,000 rmb which = 70k) but now they know alot of regulars are seeing the rigged games so now they have opened college baskets and college foots, along with NHL, and NFL,NBA and MLB. 3 years ago they had only NBA and that was it. So much money to be made here in China through betting its not even funny.

[revnecro1273]

Originally Posted by dave nz

Rev think he means underdeveloped soccer wise

yeah i guess you are right...i missed the statement in parentheses

[Wellahiya]

@Lazybox... that's why i bet NHL (US sports markets), i think those are the ones that aint influenced that much... as they are the biggest... the soccer betting situation in germany is really horrobile... not so much in teh 1st div... but in 3rd and below... just disgusting

[dave nz]

eek a question....when players refs or whoever are found guilty of corruption in those lower grades you talk of what is their punishment?

Just headed offline now, will look forward to your response when I get back.

[ZoomVT]

dave, i'll elaborate below.

rev, you just made my point. It is ridiculous that out of 9 south american teams, only 2 go through. It used to be 4; but European-biased FIFA has been eliminating the bids for south america. first by taking the 3 bid and making it a replay. and then eliminating the previous champion to have immeidate access to the next world cup. It doesnt make sense any more. why would you make the current champion fight for a chance to defend their title? there hasnt been a previous champion that had a terrible showing the next cup; so it is not a quality control issue. This is definitely something targeted at south america; it is a lot more difficult for a south american world champion to qualify again in a tough south american group; than it is for a european champion with 16 bids (yes, 16. half the field comes from europe).

Now, Dave, i understand what you are saying and i agree to an extent. But exposing these countries to the best does not mean hand them out bids to the world cup. SO we expose them to 3 games every 4 years and that will make them better? yes 3 games as they wont get out of their group. if they are lucky they will face 2 top 10 teams; otherwise it would be just the top seed.
The system is broken. Look at North America; how is that such a weak continent can have 3 bids? the same as south america? WHy dont we just merge them both and have the 6 bids open... bet you only 2 north american countries would make it at best; most likely only one with mexico and us firghting for a spot.

As far as Asia, Africa, and Australia. I am not trying to be demeaning, but right now they cant cut it for the most part. their bids should be limited to 1 guranateed per region, and the other should be up fro grabs when they compete between themselves; that way the region that shows more quality will get the bids.
This should encourage whole regions to work toegther to improve their quality; not just one country dumping millions in coaching and facilities.

Also, lets cut down some of those 16 bids from europe. it is ridiculous. It should be subdivided, where yoou have a tier 1 countries with a limited # of bids, and a 2nd tier, with less bids.

Juts my thoughts.

[Wellahiya]

Originally Posted by dave nz

eek a question....when players refs or whoever are found guilty of corruption in those lower grades you talk of what is their punishment?

Just headed offline now, will look forward to your response when I get back.

first of all, i must make sth clear... the German Scandal of '05 was different from the Italian...

in Germany, head of the 'organized crime' was a (i think) croation betting mafia, doesnt matter, some kind of mafia... and it wasnt the team that manipulated the games, by losing or losing especially high... it was the mafia that bribed the referees to make calls and pull red cards or whatever against certain teams, especially cup games... the problem... the cup was over, like 2 years ago...

and the DFB (the german football ass.) decided to pay 2 mio to the club that lost to an 'amateur team' coz of teh refferee, 500.000€ in cash... and 1.5 mio from visitors of a national football game and the 'profit' of the TV broadcasting... some 3rd and 4th league games had been played again, to fix the stats...

now they introduced changes... most important change is, refrees 'judging' the refrees... bad ratings cause trouble, also introduction of video-proof material, but not like in NHL... those will be used for red card desicions and stuff... another important point is the team of refferees, on every playday, 2 games SWITCH! refrees, so referee A should call game XYZ, while referee B should call on game ABC... now, few hrs before the game, the DFB picks 2 games that switch referees...

and the DFB works on a better solution for referees income, making them professional referees, atm they work part-time and are dentists, handimen and lawyers...

also, office of the district attorney will investigate on EVERY person that made strange bets/high bets on a game that was 'rated' by teh DFB as 'manipulated', so if they got contacts to some kind of betting syndicates/mafias... or the referees, they get serious trouble aswell...

and a change, that i couldnt believe (i mean it shoudl have been made WAY before!), referees, their 1st grade relatives, players, trainers and officials and their 1st grade relatives AINT ALLOWED to bet on any GERMAN SOCCER GAMES or games with one GERMAN Soccer Team...


that was the one scandal and it's changes...


...another problem is the 3rd & 4th league games, alot of teams having 'minorities' on their lineup, in Berlin for example we got like 10% of teh teams, consisting to 80+% of JUST arabs, just turks or just serbes... if those call their 'friends' in serbia, turkey or wherever, teh bookies can just try to shutdown the bets for the game... i hope you see teh problem... that's why most bookies took off those leagues or change teh system and limits, most bookies 'match' bets and NOT vice versa... usually bookies offer you a bet and you just match it...

...well, i didnt bet any soccer for ages...

[robertg]

I'd just like to know about the fix beforehand.