Match fixing

From the BBC -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21319807

Match-fixing: Champions League tie played in England 'was fixed'

 A Champions League tie played in England is one of 380 matches across Europe investigators say was fixed.

 European police did not reveal the identity of the match they believe was corrupt in England.

 But Europol did say that they had uncovered an organised crime syndicate based in Asia that was co-ordinating the operation.

Some 425 match officials, club officials, players and criminals are suspected of being involved.

 At a news conference in The Hague, Netherlands, Europol claimed:
 The fixed Champions League tie in England took place in "last three or four years";
 The identity of that match cannot be revealed due to "ongoing judicial proceedings";
 Other "corrupt" matches included World Cup and European Championship qualifiers and "several top football matches in European leagues";
 In Germany-based matches alone, criminals wagered £13.8m (16m euros) on rigged matches and made £6.9m in profits
 Officials fear this is as the "tip of the iceberg".

 Rob Wainwright, director of Europol - the European Union's law enforcement agency, said:"This is the work of a suspected organised crime syndicate based in Asia and operated with criminal networks around Europe.

 "It is clear to us this is the biggest-ever investigation into suspected match-fixing in Europe. It has yielded major results which we think have uncovered a big problem for the integrity of football in Europe.

 "We have uncovered an extensive criminal network."

 Europol, which has been investigating for 18 months, said suspected matches included World Cup and European Championship qualifiers, two Champions League ties and "several top football matches in European leagues".
In addition to the £13.8m wagered on Germany-based matches, payments of £1.73m are thought to have been paid to those involved. The biggest payment to an individual was £121,000, according to investigators.

 Europol believes a crime syndicate based in Asia was liaising with criminal networks throughout Europe. It believes match-fixing has taken place in 15 countries and 50 people have so far been arrested.

 In total, 30 countries and close to 700 matches worldwide were examined. Many of the allegations involved matches in lower divisions around Europe.

 Criminal convictions have been secured in Germany, Finland, Hungary, Slovenia and Austria following investigations.

 Asked specifically about the allegations surrounding the Champions League tie held in England, Wainwright declined to identify the match because of "ongoing judicial proceedings".

 However he did say it happened in the last three to four years, before adding: "The focus has been on other countries, not the United Kingdom. However we were surprised by the scale generally of the criminal enterprise and just how widespread it was.

 "It would be naive and complacent of those in the UK to think such a criminal conspiracy does not involve the English game and all the football in Europe."

2 thoughts spring to mind:

1) Please dont let it be us;

2) Please let it be Man U

Anybody got any "inside" gossip on this? Even if its totally made up, I don't mind, let's get the ball rolling.

Wonder when they'll start naming names?

Doubt it's us, read somewhere that it occurred within the last 4-5 years (the English one).....considering our recent absence from CL football, leads me too think it unlikely to be us. Saying that, I have no doubt there is more than 1 English game involved.

Shocking the scale and depth of it though, these aren't obscure games, World Cup Qualifiers, Euro qualifiers and the CL along with some of the top leagues.....to be that in depth it has to go to the top level surely?

On the other hand.....please be the mancs!

Sly Sports reporting that "European police uncover criminal conspiracy which has fixed 380 European matches including a champions league game in England. Investigation reveals 425 corrupt officials, players and criminals in 15 countries."

Destroying my beautiful game

Doesn't surprise me in the slightest, it's naive to think that football hasn't been touched by match fixing.

Yeah, its supposed to be last "3 or 4 years".

That probably means last 3 as obviously they know what year it is and are putting the "or" in just to be vague. If it was in the last 4 they'd have said "4 or 5".
Probably.

Basically, if its last 3 including this one then it defo doesn't involve us.
Not that it would anyway of course but I'd like to be able to really relax and look forward to it coming out 

Well it's reported to have happened int he last 4 seasons so thats us off the hook!

I really really hope it involves them Manc utd shitbags, I really do.

A 10 years ban from all European comps.

please god make this happen

Can anyone remember did 2 English teams play each other over the last few years? It would be even better if it was 2 teams surely this will be a ban from European football for a few seasons.

Well it's reported to have happened int he last 4 seasons so thats us off the hook!

I really really hope it involves them Manc utd shitbags, I really do.

A 10 years ban from all European comps.

please god make this happen

and suddenly 5th would be a CL spot, real icing on the cake!

In truth though this is shocking, yet unsurprising. Personally, while getting the Mancs banned would always be a thing to cheer about I hope it only involves foreign teams. Just because the game was in England means nothing if the team agreed to lose, I'd much prefer the scandals not to involve our country if I'm honest.

Anybody got any "inside" gossip on this? Even if its totally made up, I don't mind, let's get the ball rolling.

Could just see 'Arry being involved.

Well it's reported to have happened int he last 4 seasons so thats us off the hook!

I really really hope it involves them Manc utd shitbags, I really do.

A 10 years ban from all European comps.

please god make this happen

I think this is a bit bitter and twisted and a sentiment I wholeheatedly agree with.

Can anyone remember did 2 English teams play each other over the last few years? It would be even better if it was 2 teams surely this will be a ban from European football for a few seasons.

Yeah the scum and chavs, also we played chavs our last season involved, I think.

I've only just realised there are two topics with the exact same title started on this.

Not us so only a few clubs to choose from.

Chelsea - possible
Arsenal - doubt it
scum - possible
Spurs - doubt it
Man City - possible

Two in five chance of be a very happy chappy

Can anyone remember did 2 English teams play each other over the last few years? It would be even better if it was 2 teams surely this will be a ban from European football for a few seasons.

Uhh, or it might not be so good. Less English teams in the Champions League = less points toward the FIFA rankings that allocate the number of qualification spots each League gets. What if we finish fourth and because of a ban the Premier League only has 3 CL places? Not saying it'll definitely happen should English teams get a ban, but it's possible and its why I wouldn't immediately celebrate should things go that way.

Either way this is a problem that needs eradicating completely, but that's not particularly easy.

Uhh, or it might not be so good. Less English teams in the Champions League = less points toward the FIFA rankings that allocate the number of qualification spots each League gets. What if we finish fourth and because of a ban the Premier League only has 3 CL places? Not saying it'll definitely happen should English teams get a ban, but it's possible and its why I wouldn't immediately celebrate should things go that way.

Either way this is a problem that needs eradicating completely, but that's not particularly easy.

Really just going to have to wait and see, it may just be officials involved or could be groups of players really just guessing. If a team got banned surely 5th spot would take their place, no?

Yeah the scum and chavs, also we played chavs our last season involved, I think.

Be great if it was both of them. My memory is hazy too think it was the season before last we played them. Think we were knocked out in the group stages last season in it

Really just going to have to wait and see, it may just be officials involved or could be groups of players really just guessing. If a team got banned surely 5th spot would take their place, no?

Yeah I see what you mean, if one English team finished 4th and got banned for a few years then surely the 5th placed would take qualification for hte following season. I'd be concerned if we weren't in that 5th place and the performance of English clubs in Europe drops to the point where the PL has one qualification spot removed, which would make it harder for us in the long run. This is obviously all speculation, I've no idea what's going to happen here or whether these allegations will even make it into light.

Chelsea :  Possible when petrol dollars can't stop flowing
Arsenal  :  Unlikely
Spurs  :  Unlikely, too new to try those monkey tricks
Man City :  Can't go further in the tournament even with the help of corrupted officials.
Scums  :  Very extremely highly likely where they are already controlling the press, match officials, extra time, league fictures, Suarez saga, trying to take control of UEFA .......... it's all too obvious.

Well it's reported to have happened int he last 4 seasons so thats us off the hook!

I really really hope it involves them Manc utd shitbags, I really do.

A 10 years ban from all European comps.

please god make this happen

Add another 10.

Reported that the ref was from Hungary. Doubt it was a big game, probably a first round qualifier or a group game.

I reckon it's either going to be something huge - like the Chavs vs Barca in 2009.  Remember all the penalties turned down?

Or something (more likely) like a side going out to not win in order to face an easier team in the knockout stages.

A Hungarian ref supposed to be involved. Don't see it being Spuds, they are too new to the CL stage and I don’t think they’d try that. I reckon it’s Chelsea, United, or us.

Tottenham vs Inter match at White Hart Lane was a Hungarian referee. I know that's just circumstantial but I thought id point it out anyway.

Most of these fixed matches shouldn't be fixed results. In China they bet on the weirdest sh*t, like who gets the first yellow, or what minute, and who gets the first corner or throw in and when or the first foul, stuff like that.. And not just in big games either, but small meaningless games between clubs from lower leagues especially. Those matches are easier to fix for them too.