Media Report Early Warning System 04/2016 – 2016-03-15 Media Report – Early Warning System 1: Soccer - Olympiacos in suspicious Europa League match - Suspicious own goal in La Liga sparks claims of match-fixing - Goa FA sends notice to Saligao Sporting - New betting scandal in European football? - Rajagobal denies Sarawak players fix matches - League of Ireland players are being targeted by match-fixers - Leave my son out of match-fixing talk! - Lewis Smith suspended after breaching FA betting rules - Romanian manager suspended for betting - Harrogate Town player faces FA betting rap - FIFA extends sanctions imposed on 23 players and officials in Italy - Zimbabwe suspend board member over attempt to fix match - KFA willing to consider players in 1994 match-fixing case to improve football - Conte match-fixing trial date set - Match-fixing reported in Soana FC camp - Fiji FA establishes ethics committee - CONCACAF has new referee chief - Paulista calls in Sportradar - Three SAFA officials banned by FIFA - Five Vietnamese footballers sentenced for match-fixing - Kargbo says his career is murdered
2: Other sports - Tennis: TIU and Pinnacle sports release joint statement - Tennis: No match-fixing at Davis Cup tie - Cricket: PCB picks two stars as role models - AFL: Player using phone mid-match - Cricket: CSA question player - Tennis: Banned match-fixer claims ATP ruined his life - Cricket: Amir video used to prevent match-fixing - Cricket: International team under corruption investigation - Tennis: British Betting Company reports good business at Australian Open - Basketball: Company linked to Shane Heal in match-fixing probe - Baseball: Yomiuri Giants pitcher admits to gambling on baseball games - Tennis: Reappointed Kermode pledges to protect tennis’s integrity - Tennis: Italian Ceccinato faces tennis match-fixing probe
Jonas Pfändler - Early Warning System GmbH - Badenerstrasse 141 - CH-8004 Zürich - T +41 44 388 81 66 - [email protected] - www.fifa-ews.com 2 3: Betting industry - Australian Wagering Council says Aussie sports vulnerable to fixing - Foreign gambling companies eye Brazilian market - DSWV welcomes anti-match-fixing bill in Germany - Canadian region supports single-sport betting at casinos - Virginia legalizes daily fantasy sports - Kenyan betting firm boosts profile through football deals
4: Articles recommended reading entirely Podcast and article about high speed data / gambling sportsmen etc.: http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/real-time-data-could-corrupt-big-time-sports/ Frontline: The Fantasy Sports Gamble (Documentary film): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdspviDAV7E TV Film and Documentary about match-fixing (in German): http://www.daserste.de/unterhaltung/film/themenabend-illegale-sportwetten/index.html
Jonas Pfändler - Early Warning System GmbH - Badenerstrasse 141 - CH-8004 Zürich - T +41 44 388 81 66 - [email protected] - www.fifa-ews.com 3 1: Soccer
Olympiacos in suspicious Europa League match: - The Northern Irish referee Arnold Hunter has been drawn in to the match-fixing scandal surrounding Olympiacos over his performance in Anderlecht’s 2:1 Europa League win over the Greek champion. Hunter gave a penalty to Olympiacos even though the Anderlecht center-half had very clearly controlled the ball with his knee and his head. The highlights also made clear two separate incidents that involved potential red-card offences by Olympiacos players for which Hunter only issued yellow cards.1
1Inside World Football, 2016-03-01 http://www.insideworldfootball.com/world-football/europe/18958-olympiacos-in-suspicious-europa-league-win-as-rtl-ask-the-marinakis- question
Suspicious own goal in La Liga sparks claims of match-fixing: - Carlos Kameni secured his place in footballing folklore and DVD howler collections forevermore. With his current side Malaga 1:0 up against Valencia, Carlos decided to slap one in his own net. This sparked a whole rash of wild accusations on twitter.1 - Goal can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FkXO3CFH8U
1Dream Team FC, 2016-03-03 https://www.dreamteamfc.com/c/suspicious-own-goal-in-la-liga-sparks-claims-of-match-fixing/
Goa FA sends notice to Saligao Sporting: - Saligao defeated Vagator PYSC 3:2 in what was being labelled by many as match-fixing as the win enabled the Saligao Club to avoid relegation from the GFA second division league. Vagator Parish Youth Sports Club (PYSC) vehemently denied all charges of match-fixing. Vagator with thirteen points had already qualified for the next round while Saligao needed to win at all cost [the many reasons why the match could have been fixed are listed in the link below].1
1The Navhind Times, 2016-03-03 http://www.navhindtimes.in/gfa-sends-notice-to-saligao-sporting-relegation-appears-certain/
New betting scandal in European football? - According to the WDR’s investigations, there have been irregular betting movements in connection with two football matches in Europe’s top leagues. The suspicious bets were placed in betting shops in Southern Germany and were placed on a Belgian 1st Division and the Dutch 1st Division match. In the Belgian match between Ostend and Waasland-Beveren (3:3), suspicious bets were placed predicting that at least three goals would be scored. In the match in the Dutch 1st Division, Nijmegen vs. Willem II (1:0), suspicious bets were placed on a home win for Nijmegen. Overall the bookmaker paid out a five-figure sum.1.
Jonas Pfändler - Early Warning System GmbH - Badenerstrasse 141 - CH-8004 Zürich - T +41 44 388 81 66 - [email protected] - www.fifa-ews.com 4 - Last week OH Leuven, another Belgian top-flight club, asked UEFA to investigate if there was potential match manipulation linked to gambling patterns in recent matches. A Belgian magazine revealed that OHL captain Romain Reynaud and goalkeeper Rudy Riou were implicated in betting on their own matches.2
1PR Newswire, 2016-03-03 http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ardwdr-documentary-new-betting-scandal-in-european-football-570814611.html 2Inside World Football, 2016-03-03 http://www.insideworldfootball.com/world-football/europe/18977-match-fixing-suspicions-grow-in-belgium-as-second-game-is-identified
Rajagobal denies Sarawak players fix matches: - Sarawak head coach Datuk K. Rajagobal has denied the allegation that the players have fixed matches. Rajagobal: “I believe that all the players have given their 100 percent commitment in training and during matches.” The report stated that the claim was made by a Sarawak fan on Facebook, and has gone viral since last week.1
1Goal, 2016-03-07 http://www.goal.com/en-my/news/3896/malaysia/2016/03/05/21017442/rajagobal-denies-sarawak-players-fix-matches
League of Ireland players are being targeted by match-fixers: - Four League of Ireland players have contacted the Player’s Football Association of Ireland in the past year claiming they have been approached online by people claiming to be able to fix matches. PFAI’s General Secretary said the FAI’s deal with TrackChamp has opened up League of Ireland players to becoming vulnerable to match-fixers. The deal sees all Premier Division matches streamed online on specific betting websites.1
1Newstalk, 2016-03-07 https://www.newstalk.com/League-of-Ireland-players-are-being-targeted-by-match-fixers-ahead-of-the-new-season
Leave my son out of match-fixing talk! - The father of UEFA’s new interim general secretary Theodore Theodoridis, a top official at Greek champions Olympiakos, has called on media to leave his son out of match-fixing talks concerning the club.1
1Tenplay, 2016-03-07 http://tenplay.com.au/news/2016/03/05/leave-my-son-out-of-match-fixing-talk--father-of-new-uefa-general-secretary
Jonas Pfändler - Early Warning System GmbH - Badenerstrasse 141 - CH-8004 Zürich - T +41 44 388 81 66 - [email protected] - www.fifa-ews.com 5 Lewis Smith suspended after breaching FA betting rules: - Lewis Smith has been suspended from all football related activity until 1st August 2017 with immediate effect after breaching The FA’s Betting Rules. The East Thurrock United player was also fined £22’865 and warned as to his future conduct. The 28 bets over which he was charged relate to football matches played between 2012 and 2013.1
1The FA, 2016-03-07 http://www.thefa.com/news/governance/2016/mar/lewis-smith-east-thurrock-united-suspended-betting-rules
Romanian manager suspended for betting: - The current leader of Romania’s top football league, Astra Giurgiu, has lost its coach just before the playoffs. Marius Sumudica has been suspended from all football-related activities for the next six months for betting on football matches. The Romanian Football Federation also fined him EUR 22’400. Sumudica was accused of betting on football matches in the local first league as well as on other sports.1
1Romanian Insider, 2016-03-07 http://www.romania-insider.com/romanian-football-league-leaders-manager-suspended-for-betting/166055/
Harrogate Town player faces FA betting rap: - Harrogate Town midfielder Warren Burrell is facing a rap from the FA after posting a photo of his betting slip. Burrell posted a snapshot of a football accumulator which would have returned more than £600 from a £30 stake had Sheffield Wednesday beaten Rotherham United. Semi- professional and professional footballers playing within the top eight tiers of the game are banned from betting on football matches from anywhere in the world.1
1Harrogate Advertiser, 2016-03-08 http://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/exclusive-harrogate-town-player-faces-fa-betting-rap-after-tweeting-accumulator-photo- 1-7779371
FIFA extends sanctions imposed on 23 players and officials in Italy: - FIFA today confirmed the worldwide extension of sanctions imposed on several officials and players by the Italian Football Association’s Sport-Justice Bodies and the Collegio di Garanzia dello Sport of the Italian National Olympic Committee relating to incidents of match manipulation and illegal betting that took place between 2014 and 2015 in different Italian football competitions. The sanctions imposed range from bans for one to five years and in some cases individuals have received permanent bans from holding any kind of position within the Italian Football Association.1
1FIFA, 2016-03-08 http://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2016/m=3/news=fifa-extends-sanctions-imposed-on-23-players-and-officials-in-italy-2769165.html
Jonas Pfändler - Early Warning System GmbH - Badenerstrasse 141 - CH-8004 Zürich - T +41 44 388 81 66 - [email protected] - www.fifa-ews.com 6 Zimbabwe suspend board member over attempt to fix match: - Zimbabwe has become embroiled in another match-fixing scandal after its national football association (ZIFA) provisionally suspended one of its own board members pending further investigation. ZIFA alleges that Edzai Kasinauyo was part of a syndicate trying to fix the country’s upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifier against Swaziland. Investigations are ongoing.1 - ZIFA has provisionally suspended national team assistant coach Nation Dube over allegations of match-fixing. Dube as well as Kasinauyo denied the allegations. ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa: “We have a solid case, no-one will escape, the perpetrators are in big trouble.” Chiyangwa says that the main evidence is sworn affidavits from national team coach Kalisto Pasuwa and an undisclosed informant.2 - A Zimbabwean newspaper has named Ian Gorowa and two PSL players among those involved in the latest match-fixing scandal to rock the country. The two PSL players are George Chigova and Partson Jaure. The Herald claims each party was offered $5’000 to underperform, and an Italian living in South Africa was the ring-leader.3 - Two current employees of the country’s football governing body are allegedly also involved.4 - Besides national team matches also matches in the top league in South Africa are allegedly also under investigation. Current Zimbabwe coach Callisto Pasuwa and 20-year old national team goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva were the whistleblowers. ZIFA said it had credible evidence in the form of emails and audio recordings that directly implicated executive committee member Kasinauyo to fix Zimbabwe’s home and away African Cup of Nations qualifier against Swaziland at the end of this month.5 - Suspects in the latest match-fixing scandal to hit local football face arrests following a directive by the Sports Ministry for ZIFA to report the matter to the police.6 - University of Pretoria will continue to play Zimbabwean defender Partson Jaure despite the allegations of match-fixing that have emerged out of Zimbabwe.7 - Bloemfontein Celtic keeper Patrick Tignyemb and defensive midfielder Lanstheen Phalane are also implicated in the shadowy business. Whistleblower: “Rushwaya [former chief executive] explained to me that she wanted to start a sports betting business focusing mainly on the South African ABSA Premier League and the Zimbabwean Premier Soccer League.”8 - The whistleblower claims to have given the Polokwane City pair of goalkeeper George Chigova and defender Lebogang Motumi $15’000 and $10’000 respectively to ensure that their team lost a match against Bidvest Wits.9 - Chann Sankaran, a Singaporean who was only released from a British jail in December last year, was part of the cartel that ZIFA and their whistleblower claim was plotting to fix the upcoming Zimbabwe Nations Cup qualifier against Swaziland.10 - Rushwaya does not deny her involvement but claims she was working with a British FIFA-appointed anti-corruption expert to expose the latest scheme that has also resulted in the suspension of Zimbabwe assistant coach Nation Dube. She claims it was all part of an elaborate sting operation aimed at catching those responsible.11 - Terry Steans: My story: http://www.herald.co.zw/terry-steans-my-strory/
1Inside World Football, 2016-03-10 http://www.insideworldfootball.com/world-football/africa/19020-zimbabwe-suspend-board-member-over-attempt-to-fix-upcoming-afcon- qualifier 2BBC, 2016-03-10
Jonas Pfändler - Early Warning System GmbH - Badenerstrasse 141 - CH-8004 Zürich - T +41 44 388 81 66 - [email protected] - www.fifa-ews.com 7 http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/35769321 3Kick-Off, 2016-03-10 http://www.kickoff.com/news/63446/ian-gorowa-and-two-players-named-in-match-fixing-scandal 4BD Live, 2016-03-10 http://www.bdlive.co.za/sport/soccer/2016/03/10/former-birds-player-accused-of-match-fixing 5ESPN FC, 2016-03-10 http://www.espnfc.com/zimbabwe/story/2825616/zimbabwe-match-fixing-scandal-widens 6News Day, 2016-03-11 https://www.newsday.co.zw/2016/03/11/match-fixing-police-come/ 7Kickoff, 2016-03-11 http://www.kickoff.com/news/63499/partson-jaure-carries-on-with-university-of-pretoria-amid-match-fixing-allegations-from-zimbabwe 8The Herald, 2016-03-14 http://www.herald.co.zw/match-fixing-sordid-details-emerge/ 9Goal, 2016-03-14 http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4667/sa-psl/2016/03/12/21241562/report-absa-premiership-players-paid-to-throw-matches 10Chronicle, 2016-03-14 http://www.chronicle.co.zw/10-weeks-after-jail-release-match-fixer-bounces-back/ 11Inside World Football, 2016-03-14 http://www.insideworldfootball.com/world-football/africa/19038-are-perumal-and-dan-tan-still-fixing-matches-zimbabwe-fa-says-they- are?acm=9138_1233
KFA willing to consider players in 1994 match-fixing case to improve football: - The Football Association of Kedah (KFA) [Malaysia] is willing to consider former state players who were involved in match-fixing in 1994, to help restore the glory of football in Kedah. KFA honorary secretary said nonetheless the support would only be extended to former players after they had served out their punishment as set by the Football Association of Malaysia.1
1Malaysian digest, 2016-03-10 http://www.malaysiandigest.com/news/599112-kfa-willing-to-consider-talented-players-in-1994-match-fixing-case-to-improve-football.html
Conte match-fixing trial date set: - Italy coach Antonio Conte has been set a trial date over his failure to report match-fixing he was allegedly aware of when he was coaching Siena in 2011. The trial will begin April 4th and could last more than a month.1
1World Soccer, 2016-03-10 http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/conte-match-fixing-trial-date-set-369159
Match-fixing reported in Soana FC camp: - Undoubted impeccable sources inside the Kavumba based club [Uganda] indicate that close to eight players are implicated to practice the vice. “We have been following the trend for a long time but it is time we bring it to save the club” a highly placed source inside the club said with a special request not to be disclosed because he is not the official mouthpiece of the club.1
1Kawowo Sports, 2016-03-11 http://www.kawowo.com/index.php/football/item/25539-spotlight-match-fixing-reported-in-soana-f-c-camp.html
Jonas Pfändler - Early Warning System GmbH - Badenerstrasse 141 - CH-8004 Zürich - T +41 44 388 81 66 - [email protected] - www.fifa-ews.com 8 Fiji FA establishes ethics committee: - Local football districts have been warned by Fiji Football Association not to get into the match- fixing scam. This after Fiji FA established an ethics committee consisting of two lawyers and a magistrate to look into match-fixing allegations and other legal issues.1
1The Fiji Times online, 2016-03-11 http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=345120
CONCACAF has new referee chief: - CONCACAF have appointed a new director of refereeing following a review of its Refereeing Department earlier in the year. Brian Hall replaces Sonia Denoncourt who left CONCACAF at the end of 2015. As a result of some strange incidents during the 2015 Gold Cup and the subsequent allegations of match-fixing, the confederation announced a review of the decisions made at the Gold Cup as well as its Refereeing Department.1
1Inside World Football, 2016-03-11 http://www.insideworldfootball.com/world-football/football-americas/19017-concacaf-s-new-referees-chief-to-build-competence-after-gold- cup-fiasco
Paulista calls in Sportradar: - For the first time on the continent, a South America football rightsholder has enlisted the services of a match-fixing detection service. The Federacao Paulista de Futbol (FPF), which governs football within the state of Sao Paulo in Brazil, has brought in Sportradar’s Fraud Detection System to cover more than 200 football matches over the 2016 and 2017 seasons. The deal will cover the state Paulista league as well as Youth and Women’s competitions.1
1Inside World Football, 2016-03-11 http://www.insideworldfootball.com/world-football/south-america/19026-paulista-calls-in-sportradar-to-run-match-fixing-detection-system- in-brazil
Three SAFA officials banned by FIFA: - An investigation into alleged match-fixing before the 2010 World Cup has resulted in three former South African Football Association (SAFA) officials being banned, FIFA has confirmed. Former SAFA chief executive officer Leslie Sedibe has been given a five-year ban from all football related activities as well as a fine of 20’000 CHF. Steve Goddard and Adeel Carelse, who each served as SAFA’s head of referees, have been given suspensions of two years.1
1AOL, 2016-03-14 http://www.aol.co.uk/sport/2016/03/14/three-safa-officials-banned-by-fifa-over-alleged-preworld-cup-matchfixing/
Jonas Pfändler - Early Warning System GmbH - Badenerstrasse 141 - CH-8004 Zürich - T +41 44 388 81 66 - [email protected] - www.fifa-ews.com 9 Five Vietnamese footballers sentenced for match-fixing: - Five Vietnamese footballers who played for a local club in the country’s scandal-hit V League were handed prison terms of up to six years for match-fixing. The players from Dong Nai Club were arrested in 2014 following accusations they had manipulated the results of a V League match. The team’s captain Pham Huu Phat was sentenced to six years in jail, while the four other players were given suspended sentences ranging from 24 to 30 months.1
1Tuoi trenews, 2016-03-14 http://tuoitrenews.vn/sports/33693/five-vietnamese-footballers-sentenced-for-match-fixing
Kargbo says his career is murdered: - Former Sierra Leone national team captain, Ibrahim Kargbo, is still restive grumbling over match- fixing allegation against him and the negative effect on his football career. The 33-year old midfielder said the purported match-fixing allegations have already ‘murdered’ his career. Kargbo is now playing in lower league side Welling United – a team just under four professional divisions in terms of level.1
1All Africa, 2016-03-14 http://allafrica.com/stories/201603111499.html
2: Other sports
Tennis: TIU and Pinnacle sports release joint statement: - This is a joint response from both the TIU itself and Pinnacle Sports to clarify the following statement: “They [Pinnacle Sports] won’t at this present time sign an MOU with us so that we can exchange information”. Marco Blume, Head of Trading at Pinnacle Sports: “Pinnacle Sports is absolutely open to working actively with the TIU. When it comes to disclosing customers’ personal data, however, we require a legitimate request from the police or another competent authority.”1
1SBC News, 2016-03-01 https://www.sbcnews.co.uk/sportsbook/2016/02/29/tennis-integrity-unit-and-pinnacle-sports-release-joint-statement/
Tennis: No match-fixing at Davis Cup tie: - There won’t be any match-fixing at this weekend’s Davis Cup tie. This was the assurance of International Tennis Federation supervisor Ali Katebi of Iran as he buckled down to work the Philippines group 2 tie against Kuwait.1
1Inquirer, 2016-03-01 http://sports.inquirer.net/207518/no-match-fixing-at-davis-cup-ph-kuwait-tie-itf-chief-ref-assures
Jonas Pfändler - Early Warning System GmbH - Badenerstrasse 141 - CH-8004 Zürich - T +41 44 388 81 66 - [email protected] - www.fifa-ews.com 10 Cricket: PCB picks two stars as role models: - At a time when the players of Pakistani cricket team are striving to perform in the T20 Asia Cup 2016, Pakistan Cricket Board picked two stars from the past – Imran Khan and Javed Miandad – as their role models to avoid bad practices of spot and match-fixing. The Federal Government said that the players of national cricket team are continuously kept under watch during international tours by an anti-corruption and security officer, who is part of the team management.1
1The Express Tribune, 2016-03-02 http://tribune.com.pk/story/1057487/pcb-picks-two-stars-as-role-models/
AFL: Player using phone mid-match: - Corey Norman has come under fire for using his mobile phone mid-game, whilst sitting in the change room during the second half. Norman suffered a nasty head-knock and was returning to the locker room. Hayden Ballantyne was thrust into the spotlight recently, after he was also spotted on his phone mid-match. Ballantyne was investigated by the AFL for the incident, with fears that match-fixing could be at play with players on their phones mid-match.1
1Sporting News, 2016-03-03 http://www.sportingnews.com/league-news/4697025-norman-under-fire-for-using-phone-mid-match-nrl-parramatta-eels-brisbane-broncos
Cricket: CSA question player: - Cricket South Africa has declined to comment on its investigation into the match-fixing investigation despite reports emerging that Alviro Petersen has also been questioned. Reports say another Lions player, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, is also apparently being investigated.1 - Alviro Petersen has confirmed he reported information about the intention of others to fix Ram Slam matches but said he is under no investigation himself.2
1Eyewitness news, 2016-03-04 http://ewn.co.za/2016/03/03/CSA-mum-on-Alviro-Petersen-questioning-in-match-fixing-scandal 2Eurosport, 2016-03-07 http://www.eurosport.co.uk/cricket/alviro-petersen-i-m-not-under-investigation-in-match-fixing-scandal_sto5292245/story.shtml
Tennis: Banned match-fixer claims ATP ruined his life: - A banned tennis player has launched a scathing attack on the men’s professional tour, labelling the ATP a mafia organization. Daniel Koellerer was given a lifetime ban by the ATP in 2011 when he was found guilty of match-fixing through a TIU investigation. Koellerer has called out the ATP for protecting its biggest stars while sacrificing lower ranked players during anti-corruption investigations. Koellerer: “My house, my wife and my child, everything is gone and I was depressed.” He also claimed the was condemned without proof for match-fixing.1
1News.com.au, 2016-03-07 http://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/banned-tennis-matchfixer-claims-atp-tour-ruined-his-life/news- story/d4bde2ab3a5f55e34945173801ccc06a
Jonas Pfändler - Early Warning System GmbH - Badenerstrasse 141 - CH-8004 Zürich - T +41 44 388 81 66 - [email protected] - www.fifa-ews.com 11 Cricket: Amir video used to prevent match-fixing: - The International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit has utilized a video made of spot-fix tainted Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir to educate players about the consequences of indulging in corrupt practices.1
1Deccan Chronicle, 2016-03-07 http://deccanchronicle.com/sports/cricket/060316/icc-world-twenty20-amir-video-used-to-prevent-match-fixing.html
Cricket: International team under corruption investigation: - An international team is under investigation for corruption, the ICC’s anti-corruption unit chairman has revealed. Sir Ronnie Flanagan said the ACU had thwarted attempts to manipulate events in forthcoming matches to facilitate betting, and that action had been initiated against one or two individuals. He refused to elaborate on the ongoing matter.1 - Flanagan said that violators in the game are currently focusing on spot-fixing rather than fixing an entire match.2 - “Normally we would say no comment, but we don’t even know what we are no-commenting on”, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong Cricket Association said when asked about the latest scandal to hit the side. A day after Flanagan hinted that a player from an Associate nation was involved in attempting to manipulate events, Dave Richardson, the ICC chief, revealed that it was a recently suspended player. It was later confirmed that the player in question was Irfan Ahmed, the Hong Kong allrounder.3 - The Hong Kong Cricket Association has received assurance that its team is under no greater scrutiny than any other World Twenty20 after the ICC chief executive, Dave Richardson, appeared to suggest they were part of a match-fixing investigation.4
1ESPN Cricinfo, 2016-03-07 http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/978837.html 2The New Indian Express, 2016-03-07 http://www.newindianexpress.com/cricket/news/Violators-Focusing-on-Spot-fixing-Not-Match-fixing-ICC-Anti-corruption- Chief/2016/03/06/article3313336.ece 3Wisden India, 2016-03-08 http://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-news/hong-kong-taken-aback-by-fixing-allegations/203574 4The Guardian, 2016-03-14 http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/11/hong-kong-assurances-icc-match-fixing
Tennis: British Betting Company reports good business at Australian Open: - Even with controversy about betting companies sponsoring tennis tournaments, William Hill saw a good return on its association with the Australian Open. WH said it picked up 1’000 new customers a day while the tournament was on. During the first two days of the tournament, tennis betting was up 93 percent for the company. The company is paying around AU$ 5 million annually for the sponsorship.1
1Tennis News, 2016-03-07 http://www.tennisnews.com/2016/03/05/british-betting-company-reports-good-business-at-australian-open/
Jonas Pfändler - Early Warning System GmbH - Badenerstrasse 141 - CH-8004 Zürich - T +41 44 388 81 66 - [email protected] - www.fifa-ews.com 12 Basketball: Company linked to Shane Heal in match-fixing probe: - A company linked to Australian basketball great Shane Heal is being investigated by police into allegations of suspicious betting. Heal vehemently denies he had any involvement in a bet that was allegedly placed on the team he formerly coached for the Women’s National Basketball League. Detectives have questioned several people about a $600bet which was allegedly played through a third party last year for the SEQ Stars to win by a ten-point margin. The Stars won by eight points.1
1Herald Sun, 2016-03-10 http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/company-linked-to-basketball-great-shane-heal-in-matchfixing-probe/news- story/939f3f67fd6658356a6cafbd948fe4b8
Baseball: Yomiuri Giants pitcher admits to gambling on baseball games: - Yomiuri Giants pitcher Kyosuke Takagi has admitted to betting on baseball games and lying during the team’s investigation. Three other Giants players were found to have bet on baseball last autumn and received indefinite suspensions. None of the four pitchers were found to have been involved in match-fixing or to have bet on games in which they were involved.1
1Yahoo News, 2016-03-10 http://news.yahoo.com/yomiuri-giants-pitcher-admits-gambling-baseball-games-135520621.html
Tennis: Reappointed Kermode pledges to protect tennis’s integrity: - Protecting the integrity of tennis following recent match-fixing and doping scandals is the biggest challenge facing the sport over the next decade, the Association of Tennis Professionals executive chairman, Chris Kermode, said after being appointed for a second term in charge of men’s tennis.1
1The Guardian, 2016-03-10 http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/10/atp-chris-kermode-tennis-integrity
Tennis: Italian Ceccinato faces tennis match-fixing probe: - Italian Davis Cup player Marco Cecchinato is reportedly under investigation by his national tennis federation over suspicions of match-fixing during a tournament last October. Cecchinato lost to outsider Kamil Majchrzak 6:1 and 6:4. Suspicions were raised further by the existence of inconsistent betting patterns relating to their match.1
1Bangkok Post, 2016-03-14 http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/895364/italian-ceccinato-faces-tennis-match-fixing-probe
Jonas Pfändler - Early Warning System GmbH - Badenerstrasse 141 - CH-8004 Zürich - T +41 44 388 81 66 - [email protected] - www.fifa-ews.com 13 3: Betting industry
Australian Wagering Council says Aussie sports vulnerable to fixing: - Australia’s online wagering and sports betting industry has warned that up to $2.3 billion will be lost to illegal offshore operators by 2020 unless a serious Federal reform is made. The Australian Wagering Council has described Aussie sports and racing as vulnerable to match-fixing and illegal gambling, branding current laws ineffective for dealing with the problems.1
1Herald Sun, 2016-03-01 http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/australian-wagering-council-says-aussie-sports-industry-vunerable-to-match-fixing-without- reforms/news-story/ef6146e6a9f0f46f2a8c3c94e7a6f1a6
Foreign gambling companies eye Brazilian market: - Congressmen will resume discussions on the legalization of gambling in the country – including bingos, casinos, “jogo do bicho” and bookmakers. The debate was strengthened by the crisis, which has led the government to consider the revenues from the new activities – estimated US $ 3.7 billion a year – as an option to improve its accounts.1
1Yogonet, 2016-03-01 http://www.yogonet.com/international/node/38079
DSWV welcomes anti-match-fixing bill in Germany: - A bill was recently submitted to the federal government with the aim of amending the current law so that it penalizes match-fixing more adequately. The German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) has welcomed this move.1
1SBC News, 2016-03-03 http://www.sbcnews.co.uk/retail/2016/03/02/dswv-welcomes-anti-match-fixing-bill-in-germany/
Canadian region supports single-sport betting at casinos: - Legalizing the betting of a race, fight or any single-sporting event in Canada could create more than 200 jobs and keep billions of dollars in the country, according to a motion approved by Niagara regional council. Regional politicians recently voted in favor of a motion brought forward by Sandy Annunziata in support of making amendments to the Criminal Code of Canada to make it legal to bet on single-sporting events.1
1Niagara Falls Reviews, 2016-03-07 http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2016/03/04/region-supports-single-sport-betting-at-casinos
Virginia legalizes daily fantasy sports: - Virginia officially legalized daily fantasy sports, like those run by DraftKings and FanDuel. The new law is the nation’s first formal approval of the industry after it has come under scrutiny across many
Jonas Pfändler - Early Warning System GmbH - Badenerstrasse 141 - CH-8004 Zürich - T +41 44 388 81 66 - [email protected] - www.fifa-ews.com 14 - states for allowing what regulators see as illegal online gambling. The new laws set up a series of policies to protect consumers, including two independent audits every year, a $50’000 fee to operate in the state and ensuring that all players are over 18 years old. Daily Fantasy sports are currently banned altogether in many states.1
1Yogonet, 2016-03-10 http://www.yogonet.com/international/node/38201
Kenyan betting firm boosts profile through football deals: - SportPesa [betting operator] has stamped its mark on Kenyan football after becoming the sponsor of the nation’s top tier football competition and its two biggest clubs.1
1Totally Gaming, 2016-03-15 http://totallygaming.com/news/betting/kenyan-betting-firm-boosts-profile-through-football-deals
Jonas Pfändler - Early Warning System GmbH - Badenerstrasse 141 - CH-8004 Zürich - T +41 44 388 81 66 - [email protected] - www.fifa-ews.com 15