European investigators unveil scale of soccer match fixing
European investigators said on Monday they had identified some 680 suspicious soccer matches including World and European cup qualifiers and Champions League games in a global match fixing scandal spanning 2008-2011.
Europol head Rob Wainwright said the joint investigation had identified about 425 corrupt officials, players and serious criminals in 15 countries. The fixing, which was run out of Asia, had brought in at least 8 million euros in proven profits.
The matches, some of which have already been subject to successful criminal prosecutions, were played between 2008 and 2011. About 380 of the suspicious matches were played in Europe, and a further 300 suspicious matches were identified in Africa, Asia, and south and central America.
German police described a global network involving couriers ferrying bribes of up to 100,000 euros per match around the world, paying off players and referees.
Fixed! Champions League game in England one of hundreds of fixed games, say police
A Champions League tie played in England was one of hundreds of top level matches across Europe that were fixed, according to investigators.
European police today claimed they had uncovered an Asian betting syndicate responsible for more than 380 suspicious games, including Word Cup and European Championship qualifiers and two Champions League games.
Europol says up to 425 officials, players and criminals are thought to have been involved in the operation which police say made millions of pounds worth of profits.
Rob Wainwright, director of Europol, 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."
Police would not reveal which game in England was under suspicion because of "ongoing judicial proceedings", but confirmed it was played in the last three or four years.
Wainwright said: "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.
