The Dark Side of Sports Match Fixing

Match Fixing Meaning The action or practice of dishonestly determining the outcome of a match before it is played

Why Is It An Issue? Violates the rules of the game And often, the law Destroys the integrity of the game Ruins the enjoyment for the millions of fans and viewers

Why Does Match Fixing Occur? The main reason is linked to gambling Usually involves athletes, gamblers, officials, coaches, and/or referees When athletes, referees, officials, or coaches get involved with gamblers, it is typically because they are getting a portion of the winnings.

Other Reasons For Match Fixing Other reasons for match-fixing are to give a player or team an advantage in some way, which could include: Better draft pick Some leagues, such as the NFL, have a system where the worst team from that season gets the first round pick in the draft Some NFL teams have been suspected of losing games on purpose in order to finish last so they can get that first draft pick Easier playoff or draw in a tournament Finishing in a certain place may give one a better/easier draw or playoff match Easier/better schedule for the next year In the NFL, if a team finishes in a certain way in their division, then they may have a much easier schedule the following year, increasing their chances for a better season and possibly a playoff run

Examples of Match Fixing Occuring Football—Italian League “Totonero” or “Black Lottery Scandal Several players were caught placing bets on the results of their own teams AC Milan and Lazio Roma were relegated to Serie , and the star striker of the Italian National Team was suspended for 2 years “Calcioscommesse” In 2012, several players and team managers were found to have ties with local and international Mafia organizations They committed sports fraud to help these groups’ money laundering activities The Mafia paid off players to “throw” games Players and managers were sanctioned, having to forfeit the Euro 2012 competition and face a 10 month suspension

Examples of Match Fixing Occuring Tennis In a Polish tournament in 2007, Russian tennis player, Nikolay Davidenko, ranked 4th in the ATP table, was due to play the Argentine Martin Vassallo Arguello, ranked 107th of the same table. After Davidenko won the first set, the odds for a Arguello victory shot through the roof, causing a detection of suspicious gambling activity from within the Russian Federation. Davidenko then lost the second set before forfeiting Seemed to confirm doubts that the Russian player “threw” the match and colluded with gamblers in Russia The ATP investigation, however, could not find evidence of sports fraud against the Russian player

Examples of Match Fixing Occuring Horse Racing In 2011, the British Horseracing Authority revealed a scandal surrounding races going back to 2009. The BHA’s report states how in 2009, several horse owners and certain jockeys deliberately threw races while their horses were favorites in the odd-books. These fraudsters received sums of at least £6,000 for previously having colluded with bookmakers and announced their intentions to fix the races in advance.

Examples of Match Fixing Occuring Baseball—Black Sox Scandal of 1919 8 players of the Chicago White Sox were accused of intentionally losing the 1919 Word Series against the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for money from gamblers. After being investigated, 2 of the players confessed to fixing the World Series They allegedly came up with the fixing plan because of poor treatment by the coach and were severely underpaid. Without unions and unable to switch teams, they felt this was the only way to make more money, as many players had other jobs to just to make ends meet Despite acquittals in a public trial in 1921, Judge Landis permanently banned all eight men from professional baseball

Black Sox Scandal

Examples of Match Fixing Occuring Cricket In 2010, the British tabloid News of the World revealed that members of Pakistan’s national cricket team had accepted bribes to spot-fix during the test match series against England. During one of the games, fast bowlers Amir and Asifwere found to have deliberately bowled no balls at particular moments in an over in exchange for money from a bookmaker. With video evidence of the transaction supporting claims that players had accepted bribes, the ICC (International Cricket Council) decided to ban Salman Bett, Mohammad Asif, and Mohammad Amir for 5-10 years. In addition, the court found the players guilty on criminal charges and gave the participants prison sentences from 6 months to 2.5 years

Match Fixing in Futbol http://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/20 14/08/27/riddell-pkg-match-fixing- wilson-raj-perumal.cnn

How to Fix the Problem Some organizations have come up with ways to fix the issue, or at least help prevent it from happening as much Some use software that tracks betting trends before and during games/matches, while also monitoring the players’ quaility of play and effort during these times This can help determine if a player, coach, referee, or team may be involved in some type of “fixing” Coalitions have been created to educate young and adult athletes on match-fixing and prevention measures Harsher punishments should be implemented to help prevent this from occuring as often. Most of the time, those involved just receive a suspension. Match fixing is against the law, and those involved should see prison time if anyone wants this problem to occur less