By Freud of Football -
November 25th 2009 @ 2:22am
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Second German match fixing scandal in 4 years
European football has been rocked by it’s largest ever match-fixing scandal. Luckily for some of those who should have been responsible for keeping the game clean, Thierry Henry stole the headlines with his handball against Ireland.
Enough has been written on Henry, so I won’t delve any further. The match-fixing scandal, on the other hand, has far wider implications, is far more serious and has much deeper consequences both to those involved and the game in general.
The results of over 200 matches from games in German, Turkish, Belgian, Swiss and Croatian Leagues, as well as UEFA sanctioned tournaments have been called into question with Germany apparently being the centre of the operation.
Of the 200 matches under investigation, 32 are from the German leagues, four in the second division, which will be particularly difficult to swallow given the 2005 match fixing scandal involving disgraced referee Robert Hoyzer is still fresh in the memory.
Hoyzer was involved in manipulating 11 matches. His slice of the alleged €2 Million windfall received by the Croatian Organised Crime Network for their organisation of the fixes? €70,000 and a plasma TV. That was worth more to Hoyzer than his dignity or freedom.
The 29 month prison sentence handed to down and the life-ban from football were meant to be a signal of intent, a warning that match-fixing in football would not be tolerated but as is always the case, the high risks have been outweighed by the even higher rewards and the fixes continued.
This time the ring is alleged to have netted €10 Million. The 50 raids performed by police resulted in 15 arrests, the seizure of cash and property worth over €1 Million and already Swiss side FC Thun have banned Omar Faye – one of the 32 players implicated in the scandal – who allegedly took a bribe and is now under police investigation.
The captain of German 3rd division side VFL-Osnabrück’s has also publicly pleaded his innocence stating “I have had no contact with the betting mafia and have nothing to do with the betting scandal.”
The club president has also backed the player and the clubs fans refuse to believe he could be involved, one fan stating that “he is the figurehead of the club and it’s simply impossible that he would have anything to do with a betting scandal.”
It’s one thing for people to support their team but it would appear this will all come crashing down, sooner rather than later.
The German police are a tough bunch, while I’ve witnessed them drinking beer on the job I’ve also seen how they can chase an issue like this until they’ve righted all wrongs, real or imagined.
What will be interesting to see is the culpability of the administrators.
It’s likely that there is a large degree of truth behind the accusations that “players, referees, coaches and other match officials” have allegedly been targeted but what of the DFB and DFL? Or German UEFA and FIFA executives?
It was just 4 years ago that the Hoyzer incident rocked the country. Were they really so incompetent as to allow such an extensive betting ring go on under their noses for long enough to rack up more than €10 Million in profit?
Germany can no longer afford to be the hub of such organised crime and must do something to better regulate the gambling that revolves around football which is obviously out of control.
In the smallest villages where you’ll find a lone baker and butcher you are likely to find one, maybe two betting shops which are always full in the evenings and on weekends.
The inhabitants often venture outside to smoke – smoking indoors was banned a few years ago – and one immediately notices that the majority of the clientele are Turk’s, Eastern Europeans, Russians and some of the more unsavoury.
Having entered one such establishment recently to see the score of a game on my way home I was amazed at the amount of money changing hands.
Painters – who are not well paid – handing over hundreds of Euro’s to be placed on football matches, Döner-men who earn little more than minimum wage splashing the cash on multi-bets for the Turkish Süper Lig.
If Germany is serious about sorting out this problem, much stricter rules must be introduced to regulate the entire industry and a genuine special commission must be organised to tackle the problem head-on, one that is devoid of DFB and DFL as well as UEFA and FIFA staff who should also receive a cleanout – starting at the top.
This, however, seems unrealistic as the industry is worth billions and the likelihood that some powerful men have been dipping into the honey pot is extremely high.
As such, expect this to run its course. There will be some harsh words and a fall-man just like Hoyzer, but nothing will change unless someone is caught red-handed.
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Wayne of Windale said | November 25th 2009 @ 2:46am | Report comment
“one immediately notices that the majority of the clientele are Turk’s, Eastern Europeans, Russians and some of the more unsavoury.”
Unsavoury indeed.
Do these charachters belong to the Painters and Doners Union?
Marshall said | November 25th 2009 @ 6:14am | Report comment
“one immediately notices that the majority of the clientele are Turk’s, Eastern Europeans, Russians and some of the more unsavoury.”
Unsavoury? Unsavoury comment more like it.
I’m with Wayne. Those poor painters and other unsavouries, salt of the earth, shouldn’t be subjected to such generalisations and stereotypes.
Art Sapphire said | November 25th 2009 @ 9:05am | Report comment
Herr Freud, I just popped down to my local TAB and guess what.
I noticed all these un-Australian and unsavoury types handling large amounts of money.
Oh, that’s right. Only blue eyed, blondes with white collar jobs and internet betting accounts should be allowed to handle so much money when it comes to gambling. Thank for reminding me
Pippinu said | November 25th 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
aren’t the bottle blondes behind the counter???
Freud of Football said | November 25th 2009 @ 5:45pm | Report comment
Ah yes, because I made note of the lower class who often hail from other parts of the world I must be a racist snob?
Fact of the matter is, Germany has more well-defined social classes than Australia which in part is due to the education system. Gambling is far more common amongst the lower echelons of society, as is drinking beer at a kiosk at a train station while a bottle of fine red is likely to be consumed by the middle and upper classes.
I don’t see where my class definition is a problem? If it is a problem that afflicts a certain class more than another, why should this not be mentioned?
westy said | November 25th 2009 @ 6:03pm | Report comment
Freud my understanding is that most of the alleged payments have been to ethnic germans.
Freud of Football said | November 25th 2009 @ 6:45pm | Report comment
Westy, I made no mention of where the payments were going, I merely made note of those that enter the betting establishments. I didn’t imply that they were directly involved but it is still quite astonishing to see relatively poor people hand over hundreds of euros at a time.
Further, I would suggest that seeing as the last big scandal involved a Croatian crime gang and this time there have been matches fixed in both Croatia and Turkey that there would be some ethnic involvement here too.
westy said | November 25th 2009 @ 10:39pm | Report comment
Freud I was seeking information. I am not so quick to judge. Betting on football games seems to me a less insidious form of gambling then the pokies.. Do you know what type of gambling system the germans have meaning regulated betting shop model like Tab or tabcorp or is it all private bookies licensed or otherwise.
For your information in Asia it is the Chinese league that has caused major concerns for the AFC.
AndyRoo said | November 27th 2009 @ 10:41am | Report comment
Tidbit from the SMH
http://www.smh.com.au/world/china-clampdown-20091126-junu.html
I think probably more important for Australia because in the ACL China get 4 spots to our two.
Note it’s 16 former players. Wouldn’t current players be the more likely real culprits but potentially (more) damaging PR.
jimbo said | November 27th 2009 @ 10:16pm | Report comment
Germans not trying to win?
Chinese football match fixing?
What next – a crooked 2 up game in the car park at Randwick Racecourse?
Isn’t it time for the annual clean up of match fixing in Seria A?
Whenever there’s gambling involved and large amounts of money expect someone to try and cheat and expect criminals to get involved.
Ironic that football competitions and most football clubs are now sponsored by betting and gambling companies.
They’ll never clean up gambling – $1.20
FIFA Will do nothing – $2.05
Some Criminals won’t get caught – $2.35
FIFA will clean it up and there will never be any more match fixing – $100.20