A major match fixing scandal of international proportions
Three years ago, an investigation for matches suspected of fixing, began in Austria. Three agencies: a) the Sportradar flagged at least 85 events, b) the Interpol, and c) the Eurojust (European Union Agency for Criminal Justice) joined forces, to get to the bottom of the case. While all the details are still kept as a closely guarded secret, the bits and pieces of information that have reached the newspapers, have already sparked a major upset in the foundation of the entire betting industry. Especially to all the top Asian and European bookmakers, as it appears that at least one of them (three according to a number of reports) is directly involved!
It quickly became apparent that it was not a matter of local interest. Six months after the beginning of the investigation, all the evidence that had been gathered up to that point was sent to the official authorities of the countries involved. And it also seems that the main hub of this case is located in Greece. So much so, that Interpol decided to install a contingent there permanently until the case is resolved!
It goes back to 2011!
At that time there was another similar scandal in Greece, resulting in punishments for a number of club CEOs, managers, players, and teams. However, the scope of that investigation was much broader. Unfortunately, a great number of cases were archived because there was no evidence to back up the charges. And here comes the decision that blew the whole thing wide open!
As court orders and warrants are a matter of public record, when the president of the Ethics Committee and president of the District Attorneys, Charalambos Kotoulopoulos issued one that ordered the re-evaluation of all the 2011 cases again, it became clear that the investigation is the greatest and more extensive one ever conducted globally for match-fixing. A lot bigger than the Brazilian Maximum Penalty (still going on since 2022).
Charges and scope of the investigation
So far, the charges that have seen the light of day are four: match fixing, constitution of a criminal organization, money laundering and illegal betting. It is so extensive that:
- 18 clubs (5 from the country’s first tier Super League 1 and 13 from Super League 2)
- 47 managers, club presidents, club officials and players, suspects of the current investigation
- At least one international and two local bookmakers
- Another 30 persons and three clubs, suspects of the investigation of 2011
Appear to have formed a criminal syndicate that is responsible for fixing matches in at least six countries (Greece, Cyprus and Brazil have become known so far).
The course of the investigation
Through international and local warrants, phone lines were tapped, house searches were conducted, banking records opened and audits were conducted on the financials of people involved. So far, at least 4,000,000 Euros have been confiscated during the house searches, deemed as proceeds from the illegal activity and two arrests have been made. There has also been confirmation that an undisclosed number of matches have indeed been fixed. Furthermore, the wiretaps implemented by Interpol have recorded the illegal activities of the person that appears to be the brains of the operation, along with some of the members of the syndicate.
The final results of the investigation will be released in October. Everyone is holding their breaths on the names that will finally be revealed and brought to justice. Especially for the international-level bookmaker that is involved.
Super League 2 will not get under way
The law stipulates that if a club is proven to be involved in cases of match-fixing, then it is expelled from all leagues until the courts decide on its fate. If the charges are validated for all 23 clubs involved then, more or less, all of the teams that would currently compete in the Greek Super League 2 would not be eligible to do so! And they would need to be replaced by other teams from lower competitions. The championship was scheduled to begin on Sep 24. According to the president of the organizing committee, this is not just doubtful. It is rather imperative that there be no matches until the issue is resolved.
It remains to be seen what will happen to the rest of the competitions. The same rule stands true for the teams that participate in European Competitions. However, it is also a rule that no expulsion should take place pre-emptively. This means that when the report sees the light of day, if any of the five Greek teams that have qualified for this season’s Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League, face charges, then UEFA will have to proceed to major changes.
Similarly, Super League 1 (despite the clubs that are suspect) will commence, precisely because of the participation of these teams in the European Competitions. Again, in November, it is quite possible that some of them will be expelled and replaced.
It is a blow yes, but not a fatal one
The betting industry works on the premise that everything is fair and square. When cases of this magnitude surface, it deals a heavy blow to the punters who lose their trust. This is precisely why, such allegations become the subject of thorough investigations and the perpetrators are brought to justice. It is this assurance that bettors have when they open a betting account via agent that the profit or loss of their wagers is not influenced by other nefarious reasons.