By Samindra Kunti
March 1 – Belgian top-flight club Oud-Heverlee Leuven has demanded that UEFA monitor a number of its games after a number of its players were named as having potentially gambled on matches.
UEFA has been asked to investigate if there was potential match manipulation linked to gambling patterns in recent matches of the Leuven-based club. The governing body will also monitor OHL’s upcoming matches for any possible irregularities.
Last week Belgian magazine Sport/Voetbalmagazine revealed that OHL captain Romain Reynaud and goalkeeper Rudy Riou may have bet on the matches of their own club.
In October Reynaud and OHL player David Vandenbroeck were reprimanded by then OHL coach Jacky Mathijssen over possible gambling.
Reynaud has admitted he enjoys gambling and has bet on matches in France and on matches of OHL’s reserve team. He has fiercely denied placing a bet on one of his own matches. The local police have been informed, but have denied opening a formal investigation into the situation.
In the meantime Leuven town hall has confirmed it will give OHL an interest-free loan of €3.5 million to renovate part of its stadium as the club seeks to expand its capacity to 12,000.
This season OHL has been involved in a tense relegation battle in the Belgian top-flight. Last weekend the club defeated Oostende 4-1 to distance itself from the drop zone.
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