Football Match Fixing Scandal in Europe

European police have announced that 380 matches, including a Champions League tie, across Europe have been fixed.

An investigation has revealed that 425 match officials, players, club officials and criminals are alleged to have been involved in match-fixing incidents.

At a news conference in The Hague, Netherlands, Europol claimed:

1) The fixed Champions League tie in England took place in “last three or four years”
2) The identity of that match cannot be revealed due to “ongoing judicial proceedings”
3) Other “corrupt” matches included World Cup and European Championship qualifiers and “several topfootball matches in European leagues”
4) In Germany-based matches alone, criminals wagered £13.8m (16m euros) on rigged matches and made £6.9m in profits

5) Officials fear this is as the “tip of the iceberg”.

No specific teams or names have yet been mentioned.

Matches that are thought to have been at the centre of corruption are understood to include European Championship qualifiers, World Cup clashes and two Champions League ties, one of which was in England.

While the authorities have not confirmed which European tie on English soil was fixed, Europol have claimed criminals involved in the illegal activity had received around £6.9m in profits and made payments of £1.7m to those taking part.

Director of Europol Rob Wainwright said in a press conference :  “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.”

The probe uncovered (EURO)8 million ($10.9 million) in betting profits and (EURO)2 million ($2.7 million) in bribes to players and officials and has already led to several prosecutions.

Wainwright said the involvement of organized crime “highlights a big problem for the integrity of football in Europe.”

He said a Singapore-based criminal network was involved in the match fixing, spending up to (EURO)100,000 ($136,500) per match to bribe players and officials.

The investigation was carried out over 18 months.