INTERPOL Integrity in Sport Bi-Weekly Bulletin - 3-17 April 2017

INVESTIGATIONS

Australia

Police raids over harness racing match fixing

DETECTIVES from the Queensland Racing Crime Squad attached to the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission have this week executed search warrants at properties of five harness racing participants. This resulted in the arrest of a 46-year-old Warwick man who has been charged with one count of match fixing under the Queensland Criminal Code. This action is the result of a protracted investigation by police, Crime and Corruption Commission and Queensland Racing Integrity Commission into systemic match fixing in the harness racing industry. Premises visited this week included properties at Limestone Ridges, Warwick, The Gap, Logan Village and Redcliffe. Detectives seized mobile phones, computers, documents and clothing. The items will now be forensically examined as part of the investigation. Since its inception July 1 2016 the QRCS has been collocated with the Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner at Albion and is tasked with investigating serious animal cruelty, match fixing and major and organised crime across all three codes of racing.

Source: 7 April 2017, The Chronicle, Harness Racing, 
https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/police-raids-over-harness-racing-match-fixing/3164012/ 

Malaysia

Three footballers arrested for match fixing

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested three footballers from the Malaysian Indian Football Association (MIFA) for suspected match fixing. The suspects, aged between 26 and 29, allegedly accepted bribes from a bookie to fix Malaysian Premier League matches. Early investigations revealed that the bookie paid them between RM10,000 and RM30,000 to influence the results of the matches. The 29-year-old suspect is an international player imported by MIFA while the other two suspects are locals. Sources say more arrests are likely to happen soon. MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki confirmed the arrests and said that the MACC would not tolerate actions that undermine the reputation of the nation's sporting arena. "The MACC will continue to investigate football athletes and will take necessary actions if needed," he said.

Source: 6 April 2017, The Star Online, Football, 
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/04/06/footballers-arrested-in-graft-probe/ 

Spain

Eldense player makes shocking match-fixing allegations after 12-0 Barca B thrashing

Cheikh Saad, Eldense player, has spoken to El Mon de Rac1, presented by Jordi Baste, about a potential match-fixing case related to the team’s 12-0 defeat by Barcelona B. He has confirmed the claims that emerged on Sunday night and says he is willing to give up the names of the players involved. “There are four players involved in match fixing. I don’t care what happens, but when I can, I will give the names of these players.” Saad does not think Barcelona B players were involved, saying “they did what they had to do, score goals”. He also said “in the dressing room I was on the verge of coming to blows with these players”. “Half an hour before playing the game against Barcelona B I was starting, but before the game they made us leave the lineup. They told a team-mate this game was fixed and if he wanted to play he should not score goals. They didn’t ask me. The coach knew something, I’m sure, and the players too. “The coach told me to come on and I told him I did not want to. I also told my team-mates on the bench that they shouldn’t go out on to the pitch if they didn’t want their names to be stained. President David Aguilar, announced on the same program that there are "fewer Italian players involved than Spaniards" and that he was going to report the situation. The president said after the game “I saw strange things, a lack of intensity, just one booking, players not putting their foot in.”

Source: 3 April 2017, Sport EN Football,
https://www.sport-english.com/en/noticias/futbol/eldense-player-makes-shocking-match-fixing-allegations-after-12-0-barca-thrashing-5947731 

SENTENCES/SANCTIONS

Italy

Genoa's Armando Izzo gets 18-month ban in match-fixing investigation.

Genoa defender Armando Izzo has been banned from football for 18 months in a match-fixing scandal. Izzo, 25, was given the suspension and a €50,000 fine for failing to report match-fixing during his time at lower-league club Avellino. The Italian football federation's prosecutor had asked for a ban of six years, but the charge of match-fixing was downgraded. Two Serie B matches are under investigation: Modena's 1-0 win over Avellino on May 17, 2014, and Avellino's 3-0 victory over Reggina the following weekend. Avellino have been docked three points and also fined €50,000. Cagliari defender Fabio Pisacane, who also played for Avellino, has been cleared along with the club's president and other former players. Former Avellino captain Francesco Millesi and retired player Luca Pini have been banned for five years.

Source: 13 April 2017, ESPN Football, https://www.espnfc.com/genoa/story/3102009/genoas-armando-izzo-gets-18-month-ban-in-match-fixing-investigation 

South Africa

Safa suspends six officials for match-fixing

Johannesburg - The SA Football Association (Safa) has suspended six match officials in the ongoing crackdown on match-fixing. The officials, who cannot be named until they have been formally charged on Tuesday, were suspended with immediate effect after allegations of match-fixing and corruption in the ABC Motsepe League. They face counts of match-fixing, misconduct, corruption and bringing Safa into disrepute. Although most of their alleged activities happened in last year’s national promotional play-offs in Bloemfontein, Safa could not discount the possibility of shenanigans in league matches played this season as well. Until last week, some of the officials, whose names are known to City Press, were in the national panel and have been officiating at Absa Premiership matches. A source close to the investigation was confident of a successful conviction based on the information gathered. He said the matter was already with the police’s crime investigation unit, the Hawks, and the alleged perpetrators could be charged internally and also face criminal charges. “We have sufficient information to send them to jail right now,” said the official. “We believe we have a strong case and we are ready to prosecute now. What delayed us was that some of them were not consistent in their submissions to us and the police. “We needed to corroborate some of the information gathered so far. But we are confident that we have a tight case, and this should send a clear message that we mean business.” He said they did not want to repeat the same mistakes made during the infamous Operation Dribble in 2004 – which investigated match-fixing and corruption – as most of the arrested officials went free...

Source: Timothy Molobi, 16 April 2017, Sport 24 Football, 
https://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/South-Africa/safa-suspends-six-officials-for-match-fixing-20170416-2 

BETTING

India

Six arrested for betting on IPL matches

MOHALI: Mohali police has arrested six persons for betting in cricket matches on Friday from Zirakpur, and recovered 1 voice recording machine, 14 mobile phones, 1 laptop and Rs 14,500. Accused persons have been identified as Robin Sethi, Ankur Aggarwal, Jagmeet Singh, Parth Bakshi, Dheeraj Garg and Mani Sethi who were caught red handed, and sources told that all the accused persons either belongs to Delhi and Dabhwali. The local police conducted raid at Bollywood apartment after tip off was received from secret agent where these accused closely watching the matches and were connecting with other clients, customers, bookies etc via different phones. According to police sources, these six accuse were in connection with other accomplices in Jaipur, Rajasthan where they were making all the betting. Polices sources added, the main of betting remains during the matches of Kings XI Punjab, Royal Challenger Bangalore (RCB) etc, all accuse were placing bets and their main operator was linked to Jaipur. He added that, these accuse were jointly inciting people to bet on match and over last week they had already placed bets over Rs 5 lakh. Out of six arrested only Ankur Aggarwal is graduate and others are matriculates and they fixed a date to collect Rs 1 lakh from their Jaipur associates.Police sources told that, the group is into match fixing for over year and had got in contact with the bookies from Delhi.

Source: 16 April 2017, Times of India, Cricket, 
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/six-arrested-for-betting-on-ipl-matches/articleshow/58200800.cms 

Ireland 

Irish FA dish out massive match-betting bans to Crewe United players

Five players from a Mid-Ulster League club have been banned for over a year by the Irish FA following an investigation into match fixing. The Crewe United players were charged with bringing the game into disrepute for bets placed on their Irish Cup tie against Warrenpoint Town on 4 February. Attempts were made to bet large sums on more than four goals being scored in the game, which Crewe lost 5-0. The players are suspended from all affiliated football until 31 May 2018. The IFA's Disciplinary Committee also imposed fines of £400 on each player, whose names have not been released. Prior to Wednesday night's hearing, all five players admitted to a breach of rules but claimed they had acted independently in placing bets. However, committee members "were not convinced" this was the case, according to an IFA statement. "The committee wishes to express its concern at the negative impact betting on games can have on the game and urges all clubs, officials and players to familiarise themselves with the rules and regulations in relation to football." Reaching the sixth round of the Irish Cup was seen as a significant achievement for the Crewe United club, which is located in Glenavy near Lisburn. The team, managed by former Northern Ireland international Peter Kennedy, won five matches to get to the last 16 stage of Northern Ireland's premier cup event. The club co-operated fully in the investigation and at no point was accused of any wrongdoing. In a statement the club said it was "deeply disappointed to be in the position of dealing with this matter, however, we hope that this case will help all players to understand their responsibilities". Crewe added: "It has also been acknowledged that player education around the subject of betting, and how information is disseminated to [players] by all clubs and the governing body could be improved. “As a club we hope action is taken by the IFA in this regard and would support any initiatives to assist players in their awareness of such matters." There is no suggestion that anyone from Warrenpoint was involved in any wrongdoing.

Source: 13 April 2017, BBC Sport Football, 
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39589783