Integrity In Sport Update: former president of Lecce Football Club sentenced for fixing

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) is investigating allegations of match-fixing of the Guinea versus Uganda AFCON 2015 qualifier in Morocco. While engaging with the police, FUFA also appealed to the public for any useful information.

In Italy, sentences were given to 3 people including the former president of Lecce Football club for fixing the derby between Bari and Lecce in the 2011/12 season. According to the prosecution, Lecce paid EUR200,000 to win the game and avoid relegation.

CURRENT INVESTIGATION

Belgium

The Royal Belgian Football Association (URBSFA) will investigate the complaint filed by the OMS Ingelmunster football club for attempted corruption. Before the game against Harelbeke, Bram Paepe, the Ingelmunster goalkeeper reportedly received phone calls from a sponsor of Harelbeke who tried to influence him. The complaint will be dealt with by the control committee of the association. Ingelmunster is third in the 4th division in front of Harelbeke.

Source: "Corruption en Promotion A? Le parquet s’y intéresse", 25 November 2014, L'Avenir, https://www.lavenir.net/sports/cnt/dmf20141125_00564154

France

Paul Declaude, the match official of the Caen – Nimes game which took place in May shared his concerns regarding the match with the French Professional Football League (LFP). In interviews with the media, he admitted spotting irregularities in the game and informing the LFP. “There were no offensive actions in the last 20 minutes of the match which could be explained by the fact that both teams needed a draw” he noted. The referees shared their suspicions with Declaude saying that both coaches asked their players not to put any pressure on the opposite team past the half way line. Paul Declaude also confirmed the delivery of wine cases from the Nimes bus to the Caen changing rooms. The presidents of both football clubs are under investigation.

Source: "Le délégué du mach accable Caen et Nîmes", 25 November 2014, sport.fr, https://www.sport.fr/football/foot-le-delegue-du-mach-accable-caen-et-nimes-364648.shtm

Nicaragua

The Nicaraguan Yasser Arauz denied being part of the group accused of match-fixing by the prosecution in El Salvador. He claims he only served as a translator during a meeting between the El Salvador Football Federation (Fesfut) and Exclusive Sports, the company linked to Raj Perumal. Arauz is accused together with 13 others, including 11 former players of the national team of El Salvador of money laundering and illicit association. According to the prosecutor, Arauz was the intermediary in the match-fixing of the friendly match between Costa Rica and El Salvador.

Source: "Nicaragüense niega haber amañado partido entre Costa Rica y El Salvador en 2010", 26 November 2014, Teletica, https://www.teletica.com/Deportes/73431-Nicaraguense-niega-haber-amanado-partido-entre-Costa-Rica-y-El-Salvador-en-2010.note.aspx

Spain

The prosecutors are ready to file charges against approximatively 30 people, including players and football club directors, for the alleged manipulation of the Levante-Zaragoza match. The charges will be filed in Valencia, where the match took place. The Levante players allegedly lost the match in exchange for hundreds of thousands of euros. Money was transferred to the accounts of the Zaragoza players and later withdrawn allegedly to pay the Levante players. Some of the Zaragoza players received up to EUR90,000. According to the former president of the Zaragoza football club Agapito Iglesias, the money was a bonus. The players claimed they received the money in their accounts and returned it in cash to Iglesias as a favour without knowing what it would be used for. Both the Zaragoza and Levante players deny the match was fixed.

Source: "El fiscal se querellará contra 20 jugadores por amaño del Levante-Zaragoza", 28 November 2014, EFE, https://www.elmundo.es/deportes/2014/11/28/54787803268e3e50378b4586.html

Uganda

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has engaged the police to make preliminary inquiries following rumours that the Guinea versus Uganda AFCON 2015 qualifier in Morocco might have been fixed. Uganda Cranes lost 0 – 2 to Guinea in Morocco to extinguish any chances of qualification to the AFCON 2015 finals in Equatorial Guinea. “We shall let the Police do their job at the same time we call upon people with useful tips to help in the investigations” appealed Moses Magoog, head of the FUFA. The federation also condemned an attack on the house of Ugandan player Andrew Mwesigwa.

Source: David Isabirye, "FUFA Opens Inquiry into Guinea vs Uganda Match Fixing Allegations", 26 November 2014, Kawowo, https://www.kawowo.com/index.php/football/item/19958-fufa-opens-inquiry-into-guinea-vs-uganda-match-fixing-allegations.html

GOOD PRACTICE

UEFA

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has introduced new measures to prevent match-fixing, including a new application for mobile devices. "A key element of UEFA's wide-ranging activities is the fight against match-fixing, which is considered as one of the major threats to football's integrity and overall well-being… UEFA is now introducing new measures designed to prevent match-fixing in football – an Integrity App, an Integrity Reporting Platform and freephone number, and e-Learning opportunities for young players," a statement on official UEFA website said. The new application is available for free download in seven languages. It includes information related to match-mixing, videos, and a frequently asked questions section. The app also features the ability to report suspected incidents of match-fixing or other kinds of corruption. UEFA has also set up a free telephone number for those with valuable information on match-fixing or corruption cases. The number is available for the public, while previously the hotline was only available for players, referees and coaches.

Source: "UEFA Launches Mobile Application to Stop Match-Fixing", 24 November 2014, Sputnik news, https://sputniknews.com/sport/20141124/1015112980.html

ODDS AND ENDS

Online gambling

Limiting online betting to matches in the world's top leagues would help cut down on fixing because those games are not as easy to manipulate, according to convicted match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal. "The best thing to do is to curb online gambling," Perumal said. "Even if licenses are given to some companies, betting should be limited to high-level leagues which are not easy to corrupt." Players' high salaries in the top leagues would make bribing efforts too expensive. He added that while football authorities like FIFA and UEFA had introduced some measures to cut down on corruption, "to stop match fixing completely is something that I don't think can happen" for now. Perumal said that since football outside the top leagues is "not a lucrative business," club owners and players relied on revenues from match fixing. "In order to stay afloat, some clubs and some players are still involved in match fixing, especially" in less developed regions in Eastern Europe and Asia, he said.

Source: Pablo Gorondi, "Former match-fixer advises limiting online bets", 26 November 2014, AP, https://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/11/26/5343706/former-match-fixer-advises-limiting.html#.VHwKBWfuZ0d

UNCAF

The Central American Football Union (Uncaf) declared its support for an investigation by FIFA into match-fixing. The reelected president, Rafael Tinoco stated that any irregularities will be punished as match-fixing could kill football. The comments referred to the match-fixing allegations regarding the elimination phase of the World Cup. Jacinto Reyes, President of the Nicaraguan Football Federation (Fenifut) stated that his organization is analyzing the allegations but can’t comment at this point. Fenifut was surprised by the declaration of the former coach of the Nicaraguan team as he was not authorized to publicly share the information. The Panama Football Federation (Fepafut) hasn’t made any comments. During its congress, Uncaf approved the creation of a disciplinary and appeal commission as well as the strengthening of the refereeing commission. The foundation of the Uncaf was also formed with the intention of improving the management of resources in member countries.

Source: "Uncaf respalda investigación FIFA sobre amaño de partidos", 25 November 2014, EFE, https://www.laprensagrafica.com/2014/11/25/uncaf-respalda-investigacion-fifa-sobre-amao-de-partidos

SENTENCES/SANCTIONS

Italy

Pierandrea Semeraro, former director of the Italian Football Club Lecce was sentenced for his involvement in match-fixing during the 2011/12 season of the Seria A. The court also sentenced Carlo Quarta y Marcello Di Lorenzo. All three were accused of fixing the derby between Bari and Lecce on May 15th, 2011. Semeraro was given an eighteen month suspended sentence. Di Lorenzo, a friend of the former Bari player, Andrea Masiello (who scored an own goal in the match) was sentenced to 9 months. Andrea Masiello, has previously been sentenced to 1 year and 10 months for 4 allegedly manipulated matches including the derby against Lecce. According to the prosecutor, Lecce paid EUR200,000 to win the game and avoid relegation. Semeraro was also fined EUR10,000 and is banned from working in a club for 6 months.

Source: "El ex presidente del Lecce, condenado a prisión por manipulación", 27 November 2014, Mundo deportivo, https://www.mundodeportivo.com/20141127/futbol/internacional/el-ex-presidente-del-lecce-condenado-a-prision-por-manipulacion_54420817637.html#ixzz3Kbo48SZ1

Tennis

French tennis official Morgan Lamri has been banned for life due to multiple betting-related offences, the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) said on Tuesday. The 22-year-old, who has been umpire on the challenger and future tour and is listed as an inactive player on the ATP website, was found guilty of betting and "contriving/attempting to contrive the outcome or any other aspect of any event," the TIU said in a statement. The ITU was formed in 2008 at the initiative of the International Tennis Federation, the ATP, the WTA and the Grand Slam Board to protect the integrity of the sport.

Source: Julien Pretot, "French official banned for life for betting offences", 25 November 2014, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/25/us-tennis-france-ban-idUSKCN0J918420141125

Tuesday, 02 December 2014