Match fixing in association football

In September 2018, the BBC reported on match fixing in Algerian football.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45549805|title='£6,500 buys a penalty" - how corruption eats at the heart of Algerian football|date=19 September 2018|access-date=19 September 2018|author= Philippe Auclair|publisher=BBC}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-africa-45551535/i-can-fix-a-top-algerian-football-match-for-68000|title='I can fix a top Algerian football match for $68,000'|date=19 September 2018|access-date=19 September 2018|publisher=BBC}}

On 30 November 2017, Keshla FK confirmed that they had terminated the contracts of Nizami Hajiyev and Mirhüseyn Seyidov due to suspicion of match manipulating,{{cite web|title=Keşlə PFK-nın rəsmi məlumatı|url=http://www.inter.az/main/news/663-ke-l-pfk-n-n-r-smi-m-lumat-70|website=inter.az|publisher=Keshla FK|access-date=30 November 2017|language=az|format=30 November 2017}} with both also being arrested.{{cite web|title=Шок: Двое игроков Кешля задержаны за сдачу матча Нефтчи|url=http://www.azerifootball.com/ru/13/news/37984.html|website=azerifootball.com/ru/|publisher=Azeri Football|access-date=30 November 2017|language=ru|date=30 November 2017}} The following day, 1 December 2017, both Hajiyev and Seyidov were banned from all footballing activities by the AFFA.{{cite web|title=İntizam Komitəsinin qərarı|url=http://www.affa.az/index.php/news/ntizam-komitsinin-qrar/60832|website=affa.az|publisher=Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan|access-date=1 December 2017|language=az|date=1 December 2017}}

In December 2019, Jamshid Maharramov was arrested in relation to match-fixing allegations that saw him banned from football by the AFFA in 2017.{{cite web |title=Арестован отстраненный АФФА от футбола экс-игрок сборной Азербайджана |url=http://www.azerifootball.com/ru/13/news/44457.html |website=azerifootball.com/ |publisher=Azeri Football |access-date=12 December 2019 |language=ru |date=12 December 2019}}

On 29 August 2021, Arambagh KS were found guilty of spot-fixing, match manipulations and live and online betting. The Bangladesh Football Federation disciplinary committee fined 5 lakhs BDT and banned Arambagh from entering the second-tier, the Bangladesh Championship League for two years. The club would have to enter domestic football again through the third-tier, the Dhaka Senior Division Football League.{{Cite web|url=https://en.prothomalo.com/sports/football/arambagh-ks-relegated-to-first-division-over-spot-fixing|title=Arambagh KS relegated to first division over spot- fixing|date=30 August 2021|website=Prothomalo}}

In October 2018, 14 people, including two referees, were arrested and charged with bribery involving two relegation battles in a match-fixing investigation.{{Cite news |url=https://sporza.be/nl/2018/10/12/overzicht-fraudedossier/ |title=20 mensen in verdenking in fraudedossier van Belgisch voetbal |date=16 October 2018 |access-date=16 October 2018 |publisher=Sporza |language=nl}}

In April 2019 ex-Benin international Séïdath Tchomogo was one of four African former international footballers banned for life by FIFA due to "match manipulation".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48043246|title=Former Sierra Leone captain Kargbo among African internationals banned for life by Fifa|work=BBC Sport |date=24 April 2019}}

In October 2024, the Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) on Sports Betting requested the Brazilian Football Confederation to conduct an investigation into reports of suspicious incidents during the matches between Palmeiras vs. Fortaleza, Vitória vs. Fluminense, and the swift expulsion of Cruzeiro's striker Rafa Silva in the match against Atlético Paranaense. All these events took place on 26 October.{{Cite web|url=https://www12.senado.leg.br/noticias/materias/2024/10/29/cpi-senadores-querem-investigar-denuncias-sobre-jogos-do-fim-de-semana|title=CPI: senadores querem investigar denúncias sobre jogos do fim de semana|website=Senado Federal}}

{{main article|Canadian Soccer League#Match-fixing controversy}}

The Canadian Soccer League (CSL) is an unsanctioned semi-professional league in Canada, formerly sanctioned by the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA). Despite its name, the CSL is not a national league as the teams are located solely in Southern Ontario. On 12 September 2012, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that a CSL game held in September 2009 was fixed.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/exclusive-canadian-soccer-match-fixed-by-global-crime-syndicate-1.1277810 |title=EXCLUSIVE | Canadian soccer match fixed by global crime syndicate – Canada – CBC News |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=17 February 2014}} On 31 January 2013, the CSA announced it was decertifying the league.{{cite news|last=Rycroft|first=Ben|title=CSA cuts ties with Canadian Soccer League|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/soccer/opinion/2013/01/csa-cuts-ties-with-canadian-soccer-league.html |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=31 January 2013 |access-date=10 March 2014}} Following the 2013 announcement, the Canadian MLS teams Toronto FC and Montreal Impact both withdrew their academy teams, Toronto FC Academy and Montreal Impact Academy from participation in the CSL.

The CSL continued to operate after decertification by the CSA. The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) later reported that 42% of matches in the "rogue league's" 2015 season showed signs of suspicious betting activity.{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/11932437/Revealed-Entire-rogue-league-corrupted-by-match-fixing.html|title=Revealed: Entire 'rogue league corrupted by match-fixing'|first=Ben|last=Rumsby|date=14 October 2015|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}} In 2016, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police opened investigations in the alleged CSL match fixing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/talent/rcmp-opens-investigation-into-canadian-soccer-league-1.432095|title=RCMP opens investigation into Canadian Soccer League|last=Westhead|first=Rick|date=2 February 2016|website=TSN|access-date=25 April 2016}}

{{main article|2003–2009 Chinese football match-fixing scandals|2001 Chinese football match-fixing scandal}}

The "Five Jia B Rats incident" was a series of match fixing incidents that involved five football teams in the final rounds of the 2001 second-tier Jia B League (present day China League One). Referee Gong Jianping served 18 months in prison before dying of leukemia.{{cite news|url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2009-10-22/19054652589.shtml|title=一人不能承受之重|publisher=足球周刊|date=22 October 2009|accessdate=8 November 2009|archive-date=25 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025150949/http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2009-10-22/19054652589.shtml}}

From 2009 to 2011, a large-scale 2009–2013 investigation by the Ministry of Public Security of China revealed many match-fixing scandals that occurred mainly between 2003 and 2009 in Chinese top-two tier leagues. As a result, Shanghai Shenhua was stripped of their 2003 top-tier league title.{{Cite web|date=18 February 2013|title=反赌处罚:申花泰达扣6分罚100万 剥夺申花03冠军|url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/c/2013-02-18/18356426082.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214034325/http://sports.sina.com.cn/c/2013-02-18/18356426082.shtml|archive-date=14 December 2013|access-date=27 August 2013|publisher=新浪体育}} Former vice presidents of Chinese Football Association Xie Yalong, Nan Yong and Yang Yimin were sentenced to 10.5 years in jail.{{Cite web|last=张昊|date=14 September 2010|title=谢亚龙被指受贿操纵比赛 涉案金额或超南勇|url=http://news.163.com/10/0914/09/6GHHKRQL0001124J.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918023425/http://news.163.com/10/0914/09/6GHHKRQL0001124J.html|archive-date=18 September 2010|access-date=14 September 2010|publisher=扬州晚报|language=zh-hans}}{{Cite web|last=|date=21 January 2010|title=公安部证实南勇杨一民等人被专案组传讯接受调查|url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2010-01-21/12394801501.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124133346/http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2010-01-21/12394801501.shtml|archive-date=24 January 2010|access-date=20 September 2010|publisher=Sina|language=zh-hans}} FIFA World Cup referee Lu Jun, and China national football team players Shen Si, Jiang Jin, Qi Hong, Li Ming, were sentenced to 5.5 years or 6 years in jail.{{Cite news|date=13 June 2012|title=申思一审被判6年祁宏江津李明5年半 并处50万罚金|work=新浪体育|url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/c/2012-06-13/09276097923.shtml|access-date=4 June 2021}}

In December 2024, Li Tie was jailed for match fixing and bribery.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0kvxyj6y13o|title=China jails ex-football head coach Li Tie for bribery|date=13 December 2024|website=BBC News}}

On 20 September 2013, the Salvadoran Football Federation banned 14 Salvadoran players for life, and three other players for shorter periods, due to their involvement with match fixing while playing with the El Salvador national football team at various matches during the period 2010–2012.{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24184567 |title=El Salvador match-fixing: 14 footballers banned for life |publisher=BBC News |date=20 September 2013 |access-date=14 June 2020}} Those banned for life were Dennis Alas, Luis Anaya, Darwin Bonilla, Cristian Castillo, Ramón Flores, Marvin González, Miguel Granada, José Henríquez, Reynaldo Hernández, Miguel Montes, Alfredo Pacheco, Dagoberto Portillo, Osael Romero, Ramón Sánchez and Miguel Montes.

The match fixers included some of El Salvador's most noted players. Sánchez had served as the team captain at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. González had been captain at the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, when he and seven other of these players fixed the result in a 5–0 loss to the Mexico national football team.{{cite news |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/soccer/el-salvador-bans-14-life-match-fixing-scandal-article-1.1462924 |title=El Salvador bans 14 national-team soccer players for life in match-fixing scandal |agency=The Associated Press |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=20 September 2013 |access-date=14 June 2020}} At the time of the ban, Pacheco held the record for most appearances on the El Salvador national football team; he was murdered in 2015 when leaving a bathroom at a gas station in Santa Ana, El Salvador.[http://www.elsalvador.com/articulo/sucesos/alfredo-pacheco-fue-atacado-balazos-cuando-salia-del-bano-gasolinera-97110 Alfredo Pacheco fue atacado a balazos cuando salía del baño de gasolinera] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229173112/http://www.elsalvador.com/articulo/sucesos/alfredo-pacheco-fue-atacado-balazos-cuando-salia-del-bano-gasolinera-97110 |date=29 December 2015 }} - El Salvador.com {{in lang|es}} Castillo (D.C. United) and Romero (Chivas USA) had both played in Major League Soccer.

{{main article|Match-fixing in English football}}

Six people, including three current players and ex-player Delroy Facey, were arrested in November 2013 on suspicion of match fixing.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25132538|title=Six arrests in football match-fixing investigation|date=28 November 2013|access-date=28 November 2013|publisher=BBC}} Two Singaporean men were later charged,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25146940|title=Two charged over match-fixing claims|date=28 November 2013|access-date=28 November 2013|publisher=BBC}} while two non-league footballers for Whitehawk were also charged in December 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25243531|title=Match fixing investigation: Two more charged|date=5 December 2013|access-date=5 December 2013|publisher=BBC}} As a result of this investigation, three people were jailed in June 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27939919|title=Businessmen and footballer jailed over match-fixing|date=20 June 2014|access-date=20 June 2014|publisher=BBC News}}

Later that month, professional footballer Sam Sodje was investigated after he was filmed by an undercover journalist claiming to have fixed matches; a total of six people were arrested,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25288657|title=Six people held by police over football fixing claims|date=8 December 2013|access-date=8 December 2013|publisher=BBC}} including active player DJ Campbell.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25297600|title=DJ Campbell held in football fixing probe|date=9 December 2013|access-date=9 December 2013|publisher=BBC}} Campbell was later cleared of all allegations.{{cite web|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/11397314.Former_Rovers_striker_DJ_Campbell_cleared_over_match_fixing_allegation/|title=Former Rovers striker DJ Campbell cleared over match fixing allegation|date=8 August 2014|access-date=11 October 2014|author=Michael Morrison|publisher=Lacashire Telegraph}} Cristian Montaño was also named as one of those arrested, and he was later sacked by club Oldham Athletic.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25399465|title=Cristian Montano: Oldham sack winger after spot-fixing arrest|date=16 December 2013|access-date=16 December 2013|publisher=BBC}} Montaño later denied the accusations.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25431631|title=Cristian Montano denies spot-fixing after Oldham dismissal|date=18 December 2013|access-date=18 December 2013|publisher=BBC}} In March 2014 the six players were re-arrested, alongside seven new players, all based in North-West England.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26869337|title=Seven footballers arrested in spot-fixing investigation|date=3 April 2014|access-date=3 April 2014|publisher=BBC}} The seven new players arrested were later named as John Welsh, Keith Keane, Bailey Wright, David Buchanan, Ben Davies and Graham Cummins (who all play for Preston North End), and Stephen Dawson (who plays for Barnsley); all seven stated they were innocent.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-26887860|title=Preston North End footballers bailed over spot-fixing probe|date=4 April 2014|access-date=4 April 2014|author=Dan Roan|publisher=BBC}} The men were late released from bail.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-28490777|title=Preston North End players released from bail in spot-fixing probe|date=25 July 2014|access-date=27 July 2014|publisher=BBC}} In January 2015 all 13 players were released without charge.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30815575|title=Football 'spot-fixing' case dropped|work=BBC News|date=15 January 2015 }}

Representatives from a number of sports met in December 2013 to discuss the issue,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25312631|title=Spot-fixing not widespread, FA says|date=10 December 2013|access-date=16 December 2013|publisher=BBC}} while former player Alan Shearer stated there should be a "zero tolerance" approach to the problem.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25314176|title=Football fixing claims: Alan Shearer calls for zero tolerance|date=10 December 2013|access-date=10 December 2013|publisher=BBC}} Darren Bailey of the FA also stated that the country's gambling laws did not help in tackling match fixing in the sport.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25410953|title=Gambling laws 'not fit for purpose' claims FA's anti-corruption boss|date=16 December 2013|access-date=17 December 2013|author=Richard Conway|publisher=BBC}}

In June 2014, it was announced that 13 games were believed to have been fixed in British football during the 2013–14 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27706762|title=Football match fixing: 13 British games fixed - claims|date=4 June 2014|access-date=5 June 2014|publisher=BBC}}

On 1 September 2014 former professional player Delroy Facey was charged over alleged match fixing.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29016502|title=Delroy Facey charged over match fixing allegations|date=1 September 2014|access-date=1 September 2014|publisher=BBC}} The trial began in April 2015, when he was accused of being a "middleman" for others who had already been convicted of the crime.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-32293731|title=Ex-Premier League's Delroy Facey 'was match-fixing middleman'|date=13 April 2015|access-date=14 April 2015|publisher=BBC}} After being found guilty later that month he was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-32512704|title=Ex-footballer Delroy Facey jailed after match fixing trial|date=29 April 2015|access-date=29 April 2015|publisher=BBC}}

In October 2022, non-league player Kynan Isaac was banned for 10 years for spot fixing in a FA Cup match.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63302914|title=Non-league player gets 10-year ban for spot-fixing|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}

In November 2014, the presidents of Ligue 2 clubs Caen and Nîmes were amongst several arrested on suspicion of match fixing. The arrests followed a 1–1 draw between Caen and Nîmes in May 2014, a result very beneficial for each club.{{cite web|title=Marseille arrests and match-fixing probe rock French football|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20141118-marseille-president-custody-day-scandal-french-football-match-fixing-gignac/|publisher=France 24|access-date=1 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190318011047/https://www.france24.com/en/20141118-marseille-president-custody-day-scandal-french-football-match-fixing-gignac|archive-date=18 March 2019|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Presidents of two French clubs arrested on match-fixing suspicions|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/nov/18/presidents-of-two-french-clubs-arrested-on-match-fixing-suspicions|work=The Guardian|access-date=1 December 2014}}

In April 2019, Guingamp complained to the LFP about a game between Caen and Angers. The LFP said they were investigating "doubts about the integrity" of the result.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47955957|title=French league investigate Caen's loss to Angers after Guingamp complain|work=BBC Sport |date=16 April 2019}}

{{main article|Paranga (football)|Koriopolis|2015 Greek football scandal}}

Corruption has long been endemic in Greek football.{{cite web|title=Sixteen reportedly charged in Greek football match-fixing investigation|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/04/sixteen-charged-greek-football-match-fixing-investigation?CMP=twt_gu|work=The Guardian| date=4 December 2014 |access-date=5 December 2014}}

• 1948 Caso Napoli
• 1980 Totonero
• 1986 Totonero
• 2005 Caso Genoa
• 2006 Calciopoli
• 2011–12 Italian football match-fixing scandal
• 2015 Italian football match-fixing scandal

In June 2018, prosecutors began investigating Parma in relation to alleged match-fixing.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44426106|title=Parma: Prosecutors investigate text message match-fixing claim|work=BBC Sport |date=9 June 2018}} In July 2018 Parma player Emanuele Calaiò received a two-year ban after being found guilty of match fixing for “eliciting reduced effort” through text messages to Spezia players in their final match of the 2017–18 Serie B to gain promotion; Parma received a 5-point deduction for the 2018–19 Serie A.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44924906|title=Match-fixing: Parma striker Emanuele Calaio banned and club given points deduction|work=BBC Sport |date=23 July 2018}} On 9 August, Parma had the 5-point deduction expunged and Calaiò's ban reduced, expiring on 31 December 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/parma-has-5-point-penalty-removed-calaio-ban-reduced-080918|title=Parma has 5-point penalty removed, Calaio ban reduced|work=foxsports.com|date=9 August 2018}}

In February 2019 ex-international player George Owino was named in a FIFA report that alleged he had been involved in match fixing.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47131272|title=Fifa want match-fixing probe into Kenyan 2010 World Cup tie|work=BBC Sport |date=5 February 2019}} In April 2019 Owino was one of four African former international footballers banned for life by FIFA due to "match manipulation".

In March 2025, Patrick Matasi was accused of match fixing in the Kenya Premier League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cqlyqp0en07o|title=Patrick Matasi: Kenya keeper the subject of match-fixing investigation|date=27 March 2025|website=BBC Sport}}

The 2013 Lebanese match fixing scandal involved 24 players, with two (Ramez Dayoub and Mahmoud El Ali) being banned from the sport for life.{{Cite web|url=https://al-akhbar.com/Sport/46945|title=عقوبات بحق المتلاعبين : صدمة وخيبة أمل|website=الأخبار|language=ar|access-date=16 April 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/ar/news/2093/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9/2013/02/26/3781349/%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%B4%D9%81-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%81%D8%B6%D9%8A%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86|title=عاجل {{!}} الكشف عن المتورطين في فضيحة المراهنات في لبنان {{!}} Goal.com|website=www.goal.com|access-date=16 April 2020}}

In August 2019 referee Josephus Torjilar was banned for two years for bribery.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49329707|title=The Liberia Football Association bans referee for bribery|work=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2019}}

In April 2019 ex-Malawi international Hellings Mwakasungula was one of four African former international footballers banned for life by FIFA due to "match manipulation".

On 14 October 2015, the Kathmandu Police arrested five Nepalese national team players suspected of match fixing in the world cup qualifiers 2011. The arrest was based on information coming from AFC and their collaboration with Sportradar Security Services.{{cite web|title=Police file subversion case against accused footballers|url=http://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/police-file-subversion-case-against-accused-footballers/|website=The Himalayan Times|access-date=31 January 2016}}

In November 2015, these five Nepalese players appeared in court charged with match-fixing.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-34763303|title=Nepal footballers in treason hearing over match-fixing|date=9 November 2015|access-date=9 November 2015|publisher=BBC}}

In 2019, FIFA banned Niger's referee Ibrahim Chaibou for life for match fixing and accepting bribes.{{cite news |last1=Fajah Barrie |first1=Mohamed |title=Fifa ban retired Niger referee Ibrahim Chaibou for life |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/47003583 |access-date=26 August 2023 |work=BBC Sport |date=25 January 2019}} Chaibou, who is considered one of the most infamous cases of corruption in association football,{{cite news |last1=Dunbarap |first1=Graham |title=FIFA bans former referee for life for bribery, match-fixing |url=https://apnews.com/cbdb4bfe68a34d8fb68e5af0acc7b9ed |access-date=26 August 2023 |work=AP NEWS |date=24 January 2019}} was repeatedly called by FIFA to present himself, but he has never left his native Niger since then.{{cite news |title=Fifa is looking for Nigerien referee Ibrahim Chaibou |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/13959376 |access-date=26 August 2023 |work=BBC Sport |date=29 June 2011}}

In August 2019 Samson Siasia was handed a lifetime ban by FIFA related to match fixing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49375036|title=Former Nigeria great Samson Siasia handed life ban by Fifa|work=BBC Sport |date=16 August 2019}} He said he would appeal but was in no rush to do so.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49384037|title=Samson Siasia: Ex-Nigeria coach in no rush to appeal life ban|work=BBC Sport |date=17 August 2019}}

In 2004, Polícia Judiciária (Portuguese Judiciary Police) launched the operation Apito Dourado and named several Portuguese club presidents and football personalities as suspects of match fixing, most notably FC Porto's chairman Pinto da Costa.{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200412/s1257302.htm |title=Police raid HQ of European champions Porto |date=3 December 2004 |publisher=ABC Sport |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041204055737/http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200412/s1257302.htm |archive-date=4 December 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=6 March 2015}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3643515.stm |title=Portugal football bosses arrested |date=20 April 2004 |publisher=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040506202055/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3643515.stm |archive-date=6 May 2004 |url-status=live |access-date=6 March 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/soccer-europe-porto-idUKL2587848820080325 |title=Soccer-Porto president to stand trial for alleged bribery |date=25 March 2008 |publisher=Reuters |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811002329/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2008/03/25/soccer-europe-porto-idUKL2587848820080325 |archive-date=11 August 2011 |url-status=dead |access-date=6 March 2015}} Some of the wiretaps used as proof, which were deemed unusable in court, can be found on YouTube.{{cite web |url=http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/desporto/detalhe/youtube-volta-a-revelar-segredos-do-futebol.html |title=YouTube volta a revelar 'segredos' do futebol |language=pt |trans-title=YouTube reveals again 'secrets' of football |date=3 October 2010 |publisher=Correio da Manhã |access-date=6 March 2015}}

Match fixing in Romanian football is called blat (plural blaturi). This term is specifically used in the football domestic competition called Liga I to explain a friendly agreement between two or more presidents of football clubs for fixing matches. Etymologically blat means "dough" and a term for designing clandestine travelling in a city bus (has no plural form). So a blătar fixes matches and a blatist travels without a bus ticket. Blats are more related to the period before the Romanian Revolution of 1989. The Communist local and central administration had a decisive role in designating the teams who will play in the next season in the first division. Hence presidents agreed to help each other to avoid relegation from the first division.

This informal and dirty association was called cooperativa (first used in 1992 by former international footballer and current football analyst Cornel Dinu from a term which designated the Communist system of agricultural common association) and was composed by 3 or maximum 5 influential presidents.

In 1995 Dumitru Dragomir, a former president of Victoria Bucarest football team and the current long-serving president of the domestic league LPF admitted during a televised debate to being formerly involved in such deals.

After Communism collapsed the phenomenon of Blat was related to the development of informal economy. The media raised awareness about such apparent dealings though thus far never leading to serious investigations for corruption. Many football club owners, especially outside Bucharest, agreed to create an informal association between 3 or 5 owners with the aim of helping each other and involved other teams to join this "gang". That method consist in letting each of the involved teams to win the home matches, accepting to lose the away matches. The most prolific football club chief who was the creator of this cartel is Jean Padureanu (also known as The Lord), president of Gloria Bistriţa, also known in the Romanian media as the Father of Blaturi. The list includes Gheorghe Ştefan (also known as Pinalti), president of Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ, and Romeo Paşcu (also known as Breakdance), president of FC Brașov. Cornel Dinu also named DIVIZIA A as "championship of Jenel(Padureanu), Romel(Pascu)and Fanel(Stefan)" because these three chiefs had more influence in the decision of results. During 1999 and 2001 the team of Rocar owned by former Securitate officer and Ceauşescu bodyguard Gheorghe (Gigi) Netoiu was named as "champion of blaturi" in local media.[http://www.fixedmatch.info/ Fixed Matches]{{cite news |title=Xoài TV |url=https://xoaitv0.com}}

The period between 1992 and 2002 has been described by some as the "blat" era of Romanian football. After this period the Liga 1 clubs saw some of the poorest results for Romanian teams in European Competitions.

During these years there was no punitive measure taken by central football authority organisms like FRF (the Romanian Football Federation) or LPF (the Romanian Professional Football League) to stop it. After the Romanian football was ranked as the cheapest and one of the less spectacular championships in the world{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}, new club owners decided to remove their clubs from such agreements with the potential of playing competitively again.

In 2003 after losing qualification for the second final football tournament, the president of the club FCM Bacău Dumitru Sechelariu admitted on a live football talk show equally that he was strongly involved in fixed matches and that there was an association of two or three presidents who did the same, proposing to stop these practice. This was a turning and a decisive point in the eradication of the blat policy. After that, the number of fixed matches decreased and many domestic championship results were again the consequence of fair matches. The press admitted that competitive run during the 2005-2006 European of Romanian teams was a normal consequence of eradication of blaturi due to a strong and long anti-blat campaign.

In January 2008, the president Ratko Butorović of Serbian first division side Vojvodina Novi Sad, stadium director Milan Čabrić and referees Mihajlo Jeknić, Borislav Kasanski and Goran Kovačević were amongst several arrested on suspicion of match fixing.{{cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/soccer-europe-serbia-matchfixing-idUKSP19844320080130|title=Soccer-Five arrested in Serbia over match-fixing|work=Reuters UK}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Ratko Butorović nicknamed Bata Kankan was arrested on suspicion of bribing referee Mihajlo Jeknic with 4,000 Euros to lead the match at Lučani on 12 December last year in favor of Butorović's Vojvodina Novi Sad that was a visitor.{{cite web|url=http://english.blic.rs/Society/1482/5500-Euros-for-arranging-of-football-match/print|title=Blic online - Print|work=blic.rs|access-date=11 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402192055/http://english.blic.rs/Society/1482/5500-Euros-for-arranging-of-football-match/print|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead}}

In October 2009, Serbia beat Romania in a suspicious 5–0 in Belgrade in a FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying match. After the defeat the Romanian team headed to their hotel in Belgrade and some journalists saw Adrian Mutu leaving to celebrate with Butorović.{{cite web|url=http://www.libertatea.ro/detalii/articol/nationala-juniori-umilita-sarbi-calificare-euro-poze-interlop-ratko-buturovici-397165.html|title=Umiliţi de sârbi în calificările pentru Euro, juniorii s-au mândrit cu pozele cu interlopul Ratko Buturovici|work=libertatea.ro|date=June 2012 }}

In June 2012, Serbia U-19 side played Romania in 2012 UEFA European Under-19 Championship elite qualification the Serbs won 3–0 in Serbia, before the match three Romanian players were seen taking photos with Butorović.{{cite web|url=http://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/nationala/de-git-cu-ultraboss-juniorii-u19-s-au-fotografiat-alaturi-de-interlopul-sirb-ratko-buturovici-336191.html|title=De gît cu "ultraboss" » Juniorii U19 s-au fotografiat alături de interlopul sîrb Ratko Buturovici|work=GSP}}

According to Mirko Poledica President of the Sindicate of Professional Footballers in Serbia, it had been a public secret for years that matches were fixed in the country's football championships. 'People have known about match-fixing for a long time, but this is the first time that players talk about it in public. Unfortunately, there is a lot of crime and there are a lot of hooligans in Serbian football. Many of those who know something, have no courage to talk about fixed matches, because of their personal safety. Some of the players have received threatening text messages: if they do not keep quiet, they will suffer serious consequences.'{{cite web|url=http://fifpro.org/en/news/serbian-union-we-want-to-clean-our-football|title=Serbian union: 'We want to clean our football'|work=FIFPro World Players' Union}}

In July 2014 a total of 15 people were indefinitely suspended by the Sierra Leone Football Association over allegations of match-fixing - 4 players (Ibrahim Kargbo, Ibrahim Koroma, Samuel Barlay and Christian Caulker) as well as 3 referees and 8 officials, including Rodney Michael.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28325794|title=Sierra Leone match-fixing: Captain Kargbo one of 15 suspended|date=16 July 2014|access-date=16 July 2014|publisher=BBC}} Koroma later denied the allegations,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28344985|title=Sierra Leone's Ibrahim Koroma denies match-fixing claims|date=17 July 2014|access-date=22 July 2014|author=Ian Hughes|publisher=BBC}} and an inquiry into the allegations was also announced.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28440467|title=Fifa backs Sierra Leone match-fixing inquiry|date=23 July 2014|access-date=24 July 2014|author=Mohamed Fajah Barrie|publisher=BBC}} The bans on the 15 players was lifted in March 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31820051|title=Sierra Leone: Bans on 15 alleged match-fixers lifted|date=10 March 2015|access-date=11 March 2015|publisher=BBC}}

In April 2019 ex-Sierra Leone international Ibrahim Kargbo was one of four African former international footballers banned for life by FIFA due to "match manipulation".

In May 2019 a number of people (including current and former players) were arrested by police in Spain investigating match-fixing allegations.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48431483|title=Match-fixing in football: Spanish police make arrests in top two divisions|work=BBC Sport |date=28 May 2019}}

In March 2023, FC Barcelona were accused of bribing a referee official.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64918604|title=Barcelona face corruption charges over payments|website=www.bbc.co.uk}} Police raided the referral office in September 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66946236|title=Police raid referees' HQ amid Barca investigation|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}

In November 2019 Nigerian player Dickson Etuhu was found guilty of match fixing by a Swedish court, and said he would appeal.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50407929|title=Dickson Etuhu: Ex-Nigeria player guilty of match-fixing in Sweden|work=BBC Sport |date=13 November 2019}} Both Defence and Prosecution said they would appeal the sentence.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50407929|title=Dickson Etuhu: Ex-Nigeria player's sentence appealed|work=BBC Sport |date=14 November 2019}}

In August 2021, Iranian forward Amir Memari Manesh was banned for life by the Tajikistan Football Federation for admitting to betting on his own games with Dushanbe-83.{{cite web |title=ИГРОК "ДУШАНБЕ" АМИР МЕМАРИ МАНЕШ ПОЖИЗНЕННО ОТСТРАНЕН ОТ ФУТБОЛА |url=http://fft.tj/igrok-dushanbe-amir-memari-manesh-pozhiznenno-otstranen-ot-futbola/ |website=fft.tj/ |publisher=Tajikistan Football Federation |access-date=17 August 2021 |language=Russian |date=17 August 2021}}

In the 1999 Thai Premier League, Bangkok Bank of Commerce FC ended the season with only two points from 22 matches. In the last fixture, they lost 0-10 to Royal Thai Air Force. After Royal Thai Air Force won the league by a single goal differential, an investigation led by the Football Association of Thailand resulted in Bangkok Bank of Commerce's manager and assistants being suspended. The club was expelled from the association, and later folded due to financial difficulties.http://www.thailandsusu.com/webboard/index.php?topic=51606.50;wap2 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917221545/http://www.thailandsusu.com/webboard/index.php?topic=51606.50;wap2 |date=5 March 2025}}

In March 2019, Togolese referee Kokou Hougnimon Fagla was banned for life by FIFA due to match fixing.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47651820|title=Fifa bans Togo referee Kokou Hougnimon Fagla for life|work=BBC Sport |date=21 March 2019}} He denied that he had done so.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47669106|title=Banned Togo referee denies agreeing to manipulate match|work=BBC Sport |date=22 March 2019}}

In May 2018, 35 Ukrainian clubs were accused of match-fixing.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44216041|title=Ukraine match fixing: 35 clubs accused and about 50 people detained|date=22 May 2018|access-date=22 May 2018|publisher=BBC}}

In September 2022, Georgian midfielder Kakhi Makharadze was handed a five-year ban for match fixing involving his club Lokomotiv Tashkent.{{cite web |title=Kakhi Makharadze banned from football for five years for match-fixing |url=https://www.uzdaily.uz/en/post/75674 |website=uzdaily.uz/ |publisher=UZ Daily |access-date=20 October 2022 |date=18 September 2022}}

{{reflist}}

{{Match fixing in association football}}

{{Sports Corruption Scandals}}

Category:Association football culture