Match fixing

The latest revelations of match fixing in European football are a concern, not so much for the fact that they exist (because we have known about the existence of betting scams for four decades), but because the lack of action from the football governing authorities on a vital subject.

An excellent article in this weekend’s New York Times by Declan Hill made the very valid point that while US sports governing bodies all have very active and effective security sections, both FIFA and UEFA (double the size at then some of the NFL) have done little or nothing to curb the rapid recent rise in illegal betting activity in its sport.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is most to blame for his out-of-date attitude: all he ever does is announce a press conference and promise to do something about it before closing his eyes and hoping the problem will go away. This cannot happen this time – there is too much money involved in betting, particularly in Asia.

And it is getting more and more serious.

The death of two Chinese students and the subsequent eviction of a Chinese illegal immigrant in Newcastle last year highlighted how widespread and increasingly sinister the practice now is.

The throat of Zhen Xing Yang was cut after he had been tortured, while his girlfriend Xi Zhou had her skull split in three places, dying in agony. Police found that their bank accounts had filtered more than £300,000 in short order, despite Miss Zhou working in a Chinese restaurant kitchen and Mr Yang being unemployed. Guang Hui Cao was sentenced to 32 years for their murder, and refused to give a motive for the crime despite the promise of a much lighter sentence. Police believe his silence is because he was more concerned about repurcussions for blowing the lid on a sophisticated betting ring than any innocence or lack of knowledge.

Their death was wholly related to betting. The murdered pair were organisers for a China-based betting ring. They hired runners to give live commentary on games on Chinese mobile phones In England to take advantage of the 2-3 minute delay in information to China. The gang in China would rake in fortunes betting on the next corner, next goal etc.. because of the information and the time difference.

While this kind of ring holds no untowards influence on events on the pitch, there is evidence that other Asian illegal betting rings are getting to players and coaches – and changing the results of matches. Declan Hill himself went undercover for the NY Times this year and discovered that illegal betting rings are rife across Europe preying on the fears of players by suggesting to them that all their colleagues are in on the scam.

And there lies the problem. As FIFA and UEFA bury their head in the sand any player approached has no option but to fend for himself. Without a security department he has no one to turn to to report any approach.

Tennis had the same problem until it clamped down, now players are quick to inform on wrongdoers, and the betting scourge has been clamped down upon.

There is also a precedent in European football. The Danish football association has a security division, which has proved incredibly successful and – more importantly – acts as a very visible deterrent.

If FIFA and UEFA don’t act now, as Asian interest in the game gets stronger and stronger then it will descend into a farce of illegitimate results and, eventually, fans will lose interest.

You only have to watch the end of the Italian Serie A season, where draws are often odds on and results are constantly “dodgy” to see what the future of football will be.

Frightening.

French annoyance

It is the tightest of margins that win matches and for Auxerre in France the absence of a single player is proving a desperate problem.

Ireneusz Jelen, Auxerre’s Polish striker missed out on their match on Sunday with a thigh problem that for all intents and purposes we had been told had cleared up. They duly missed a hatful of chances in going down against Nantes at home.

They lost in similar fashion the week before when Jelen was withdrawn before their 1-0 defeat to PSG.

If he is fit next week at Lorient – and we are told he is 80% – you would expect to get a great price on the former league leaders.

But here’s our problem.

Coaches are proving tricky to track down when it comes to their injuries in case it hands an early advantage to their opponents.

Man Utd have been tight-lipped about Nemanja Vidic’s health this week and it wasn’t until he failed to board the plane to Wolfsburg that it surmised that Man Utd only have one recognised defender in Germany this week.

You have to feel for anyone who put money on Man Utd early.

Last chance for World Cup deal

We’ve had the draw in South Africa – and didn’t England and Spain do well. I genuinely fear for Brazil and tournament hosts South Africa, but I am more concerned about you, my reader.

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All the best

Sean Smith
Editor
Footbet