FIFA clears up match-fixing cases with raft of player bans across Africa and Caribbean
April 25 – FIFA have issued lifetime bans to eight current and former players and an agent after they were found guilty of match manipulation.
Match-fixing
French police probe into €32k cash bet on Tunisian divison 1 match
April 24 – A probe into alleged match-fixing in Tunisia has been launched by both the country’s FA and French police following an alert triggered by French state-owned betting operator Française des Jeux (FDJ).
FIFA bans Tanzanian ref Mbaga for match-fixing ‘several’ internationals
February 27 – Yet another African referee has been banned for life for match-fixing in the latest sanction to heap ignominy on the credibility of the Continent’s officials.
ESSA data shows match-fixing still a danger to football integrity and a threat to esports
By Paul Nicholson
February 14 – Sports betting integrity body ESSA reported 267 match-fixing alerts to the relevant sporting and/or regulatory authorities for investigation in 2018, 83 of those cases were reported in the last quarter.
FIFA to probe match-fixer Perumal and Kenyan links
By Samindra Kunti
February 6 – FIFA has demanded a full investigation into allegations of match-fixing in Kenyan national team matches. Former Kenya international George Owino and convicted match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal (pictured) are believed to have manipulated matches involving the Harambee Stars, including a 2010 World Cup qualifier.
Belgian police seek access to whistleblower Pinto’s docs for match-fixing probe
January 30 – Belgian authorities are seeking access to documents relating to alleged corruption acquired by Portuguese hacker Rui Pinto who is under arrest in Hungary.
FIFA bans Niger ref Chaibou for taking multiple bribes to fix matches
January 25 – FIFA has handed a lifetime ban to Niger referee Ibrahim Chaibou for taking bribes in the latest sanction meted out to an African official.
AFC and UNODC tool up for battle against match-fixing
December 6 – With the roots of global football match-fixing embedded in parts of Asia, The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Kuala Lumpur.
Match fixing: $150k offered to three Belgian women’s youth players to fix game
November 29 – Three players from Belgium’s U16 women’s team were approached in a match fixing attempt during an international tournament this year, the Belgian FA (KBVB) has revealed.
Investigation uncovers mass Cypriot match-fixing scam led by Chinese club investor
November 20 – More than 30 close-season friendly games in Cyprus during 2016, 2017, and 2018 were allegedly fixed, according to local reports citing a probe by a Romanian member of the European Investigative Collaborations (EIC), a widespread media network.
Belgian match-fixing scandal sees 20 charged on criminal offences
By Samindra Kunti
October 16 – Local authorities have charged 20 suspects in the corruption scandal that has engulfed Belgian football. Agents Mogi Bayat and Dejan Veljkovic, FIFA referees Bart Vertenten and Sébastien Delferière, and Brugge coach Ivan Leko are among they key suspects. Charges range from money laundering and criminal organisation to bribery.
French police probe Red Star 6-1 loss to PSG for alleged match-fixing
By Andrew Warshaw
October 15 – French authorities have confirmed they are investigating potentially one of the most damaging and high-profile allegations of match-fixing to hit the European game.
Belgian police keep nine in custody as second division suspended and investigation deepens
By Samindra Kunti
October 12 – Nine people remain in police custody in the Belgian corruption and match-fixing investigation following raids across the country on Wednesday. The charges range from criminal organisation to money laundering. Meanwhile all second division matches have been postponed this weekend.
Belgium football in chaos as police swoop on 44 locations in matchfixing probe
By Samindra Kunti
October 11 – Belgian football has been rocked by a wide-ranging investigation into financial fraud and match-fixing. The federal prosecutor’s office said that 44 searches of premises in Belgium and 13 abroad had been staged by 220 officers in Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Montenegro, Serbia and Macedonia. Club Brugge coach Ivan Leko (pictured) spent the night in jail and top agent Mogi Bayat was also arrested.
Crime and punishment: FIFPro says Samir Arab’s matchfixing ban is unfair and wrong
August 23 – The international players’ union FIFPro has taken UEFA to task over a two-year ban imposed for matchfixing by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Maltese under-21 international Samir Arab.