Weekly integrity in sport update from INTERPOL 23-29 November 2015

In this week’s recap, we have two internal investigations involving possible cases of match-fixing having occurred during the match Albania vs Armenia (match qualifying for Euro 2016) and one enquiry opened by Malta FA Integrity Office with regards to a speculation that a player received an approach to throw a Premier League game.

Another interesting article regards the well-known Singaporean Tan Seet Eng (also known as Dan Tan), detained in jail for more than two years under suspicion of being the mastermind of a global match-fixing syndicate, released after the Singaporean Court of Appeal ruled he was being held unlawfully.

Meanwhile Netherlands published the result of a survey regarding the gambling market in the country. This survey demonstrated once more that the online gambling market could be significantly larger than it normally being estimated.

CURRENT INVESTIGATION

Albania

Albania’s place in Euro 2016 could be in doubt, after the head of the Armenian FA suggested a “betrayal” took place in his country’s match against the Balkan state in October.

A 3-0 victory for Albania in Yerevan, looked to have sealed their first appearance at a major tournament, but match-fixing allegations have put a question mark over their participation in Euro 2016.

“Our national team players simply do not want to play. As for the match against Albania, there was a betrayal during it. If even the best coach had headed our team during the match against Albania, the result would have been the same,” said Ruben Hayrapetian, who is in charge of the Armenian Football Federation (FFA), reports World Soccer.

Denmark will keep a close eye on any possible UEFA investigation, after they finished two points behind the Albanians in qualifying, and lost to Scandinavian rivals Sweden in the play-offs.

Source: AP, "Albania could face disqualification from Euro 2016 over match-fixing allegations", 27 November 2015, The 42, https://www.the42.ie/albania-match-fixing-allegations-2469918-Nov2015/

Malta

Speculation that a player received an approach to throw a Premier League game has triggered a probe by the Malta FA Integrity Office.

The investigation centres on the first-round meeting between relegation strugglers Naxxar Lions and St Andrew’s, played at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on October 31. According to information obtained by Times of Malta, the Malta FA Integrity Office, spearheaded by Franz Tabone, launched the probe as soon as they got wind of the rumours of the alleged match-fixing approach. Naxxar came from behind to take the three points after beating StAndrew’s 2-1 in a generally balanced encounter. A number of persons, including the player at the centre of these rumours, coaches and club officials, have already been spoken to by Tabone in a bid to gather more information and establish the veracity of the allegations which surfaced only a few days after the match. The president of one of the two clubs concerned reportedly requested an urgent meeting with Tabone last week after being made aware of the allegations swirling around the league match involving his team. Inquiries are still on-going. At this stage, the investigating officers are believed to have found no evidence that the Naxxar Lions-St Andrew’s game may have fallen victim to illegal gambling but SportRadar have been asked to provide information on the betting patterns related to the match.

Source: Kevin Azzopardi, "MFA probing rumours of match-fixing approach", 28 November 2015, Times of Malta, https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20151128/football/MFA-probing-rumours-of-match-fixing-approach.593790

LEGISLATION

Netherlands

The VVD and PvdA wants to allow online sports gambling, but block match fixing with restrictions and binding it to strict rules. Dutch football association KNVB is very happy with the adjustments planned for the gambling law, calling it a “profit for the sport”. The government submitted a legislative proposal to regulate online sports gambling last year. A majority of the Kamer is in favor of the plan, but suggested a number of requirements, NOS reports. Currently in the Netherlands, you can only legally gamble on sporting events via the Lotto, and then only on matches that are already in progress. Coalition parties VVD and PvdA wants gambling on sporting events to not be allowed if the aspects bet on are easy to manipulate, such as betting on a red card in a football match or a double fault in tennis – elements that can be influenced by one player. “These are game elements that are so easy to manipulate that we do not want to allow it”, VVD parliamentarian Jeroen van Wijngaarden explained to the broadcaster. The VVD and PvdA also want to ban betting on amateur and friendly matches during training camps abroad. According to the KNVB, players in these matches are more susceptible to bribery and match fixing as they get little to no compensation for playing these matches. The KNVB is very happy with these restrictions. “Limiting gambling opportunities in this way is a profit for the sport. The important thing is that not criminals, but players on the field, determine how the match plays out. And these proposals contribute to that”, said KNVB operational director Gijs de Jong in an reaction. “We are very supportive of these restrictions and we are pleased that these parties comply with our wishes.” The coalition parties consulted with the NOC*NSF and KNVB about these adjustments. The Tweede Kamer is expected to discuss the new gambling law next year.

Source: Janene Pieters, "Dutch restricting online sports gambling to block match fixing", 23 November 2015, NL Times, https://www.nltimes.nl/2015/11/23/dutch-restricting-online-sports-gambling-to-block-match-fixing/

Monday, 30 November 2015