Match-fixing – Inside World Football

Sportradar reports 1% drop in suspicious match identification in 2025

Andy Elliott — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:52:59 +0000

February 12 – Match-fixing is the scourge of sports. Hard to detect, and always shifting in shape and scope. However, according to Sportradar, suspected occurrences of the practice are dropping.

The integrity firm’s annual Integrity in Action report suggests that global efforts to mitigate manipulation across all sports are beginning to work.

After monitoring more than one million sporting events across 70 sports last year, Sportradar identified 1,116 suspicious matches.

Turkish authorities order arrest of 21 people on charges of illegal betting and match-fixing

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 04:10:12 +0000

November 10 – The Turkish prosecutor’s office has ordered the detention of 21 individuals, including 17 football referees and a Super Lig club president, on charges of involvement in illegal betting and match-fixing.

According to a statement by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office, the detained referees are accused of abusing their official positions and intentionally influencing the outcome of matches. Among the other suspects are a former club owner and a former sports association chairman,

Bulgarian betting scandal escalates to fear of match-fixing after initial 46 sanctions, investigation continuing

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 00:40:05 +0000

September 24 – The scandal surrounding the sanction of players and coaches for betting on matches in Bulgaria’s top two divisions in the 2024/2025 season has taken a new twist.

Initially the Bulgarian Football Union said that none of 46 players and coaches sanctioned from efbet Liga and Mr Bit Vtora Liga had place bets on their own teams.

The individuals were each fined 10,000 Leva ($6,000) and suspended from competition until their fines were paid.

Flamengo’s Bruno Henrique handed 12-match ethics ban but still faces court for match-fixing charges

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 10:13:29 +0000

September 5 – Flamengo striker Bruno Henrique has been suspended for 12 matches because of a violation of sports ethics, but will still face a criminal trial over alleged match fixing.

After a marathon hearing, Brazil’s Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) slapped the player with a 12-game suspension after he was charged with spot fixing in a 2023 Brasileirão match against Santos at Mané Garrincha Stadium.

He was acquitted of deliberately manipulating and damaging a team,

Paqueta legal team considering sueing FA over damaging spot-fixing case

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 10:05:50 +0000

September 5 – West Ham and Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta is considering suing the Football Association (FA) after he was cleared of spot-fixing, according to reports.

The news comes after the 28-year-old was charged by the FA in May 2024 for allegedly getting booked deliberately for the “improper purpose of affecting the betting market”, a charge that has since been cleared.

The investigation officially began in August 2023, beginning an ugly and lengthy saga which damaged the player’s reputation enough for Manchester City to pull out of their planned £80 million move for the midfielder that summer.

Brazil’s CBF extends Sportradar deal in battle against match-fixing

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 05:48:01 +0000

April 17 – With accusations of match-fixing now commonplace in the Brazilian club game, the Brazilian FA (CBF) has extended its integrity partnership with Sportradar Integrity & Regulatory Services, in a bid to enhance efforts to combat match-fixing in Brazilian football.

Sportradar’s Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS), will deliver integrity monitoring for more than 8,200 men’s and women’s matches covering all Brazilian national championships.

Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the CBF: “Strengthening the integrity of Brazilian football is a priority for this administration,

Starlizard report find slight drop in ‘fixed’ matches, but match-fixers still a clear and present danger

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 05:02:48 +0000

April 1 – Sports integrity specialists Starlizard Integrity Services (SIS) have reported a slight drop in matches suspected of match-fixing in their annual report that covers more than 74,000 national and international games in 2024.

A total of 159 football matches were identified as suspicious, against 171 matches identified as suspicious in 2023.

This is a drop from the 171 suspicious matches identified in 2023 (0.23% of that year’s analysed matches).

Brazil extends match-fixing probe as English FA decision on Paqueta case nears

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 09:20:44 +0000

February 24 – The Brazilian Senate has extended an investigation into match fixing and sports betting, awaiting the outcome of the FA’s investigation into Lucas Paqueta.

One of the driving forces behind the Committee of Parliamentary Inquiry (CPI), Senator Jorge Kajuru said: “New information has started to reach us. We are certain that the English FA will judge Paquetá in the first week of March.”

The English governing body has charged the Brazilian player with alleged breaches of its betting rules.

Mexican FA cracks down on third tier match-fixing with 7 players banned

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 10:11:34 +0000

February 17 – Seven players from two clubs in Mexico’s third division have been suspended for a combined 57 years for involvement in sports betting and fixing matches.

Six of them played for Real Apodaca, and the other for Correcaminos UAT.

Neither the Mexican Football Association disciplinary commission nor the two clubs revealed the names of the players and did not say which matches were manipulated.

A player each from Apodaca and Correcaminos were suspended for 16 years each.

FIFA allows South Korean Son Jun-ho to continue career despite match-fixing ban in China

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 06:45:43 +0000

January 27 – In an unusual move by FIFA, the lifetime ban on former South Korean international Son Jun-ho imposed in China last year on charges of match-fixing has not been extended to the rest of the world, allowing the player to pursue his career.

Traditionally, FIFA turns domestic bans for this kind of misdemenour into global ones but not this time, clearly not convinced that the punishment meted out by Chinese authorities merited more widespread action.

Sevilla’s Salas awaits trial date in match-fixing case

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 06:31:30 +0000

January 27 – Sevilla’s Kike Salas is awaiting a trial date having been formally charged at the end of last week by Spanish prosecutors over allegations of match-fixing.

A conviction by the Justice Court could mean a prison sentence ranging from six months to three years. RFEF sanctions, if guilty, stipulate a five-year ban from professional football and a fine of up to €30,000.

Salas was arrested and briefly held last Tuesday as part of an investigation into Salas and two other young men who were part of his circle.

Sevilla’s Kike Salas at centre of spot-fixing probe

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 06:35:07 +0000

January 15 – Spanish police briefly detained Sevilla defender Kike Salas on Tuesday with the player alleged to be involved in an illegal betting scandal.

A local court has opened an investigation into Salas and two other young men who were part of his circle, according to newspaper El Confidencial, with Salas alleged to have deliberately earned yellow cards in matches last season to favour bets placed by relatives.

There are around 30 bets under suspicion with Salas receiving 10 yellow cards in the 2023-24 season,

Sportradar reports 17% decline in match-fixing in 2024

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 07:37:00 +0000

January 10 – Match-fixing has reversed several years of growth and is now on the decline, according to the 2024 Sportradar annual integrity report report.

Based on the monitoring of more than 850,000 matches across 70 sports, Sportradar identified 1,108 suspicious matches across 12 sports in 95 countries in 2024. A year-on-year decline of 17% against 2023.

Football is still by far the sport most affected by suspected match-fixing with 721 suspicious

matches identified compared to 187 in basketball,

Argentine FA bans one ref and suspends six others as match-fixing probe deepens

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 05:59:11 +0000

December 11 – The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has banned referee Matías Beares following his involvement in match-fixing.

The case was opened after a joint complaint from Lotería de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires and betting operator BPlay. The investigation revealed that Beares placed two bets on a second-division match between Deportivo Morón and Almirante Brown, violating the AFA referee code.

According to the AFA, Beares wagered 500,000 Argentine pesos (£385) on the game,

Referee David Coote denies issuing pre-meditated yellow card for betting fix

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 04:54:26 +0000

November 27 – The English FA is investigating allegations that under-fire referee David Coote had a discussion with a friend about issuing a yellow card to a player the day before a match, allegations which he has denied.

The already suspended official hit the headlines recently after videos showed him snorting a white powder during last summer’s Euros and, in a totally separate incident, allegedly ranting against Liverpool.

On Tuesday, The Sun newspaper claimed a friend had jokingly told Coote to issue a yellow card to then-Leeds United player Ezgjan Alioski during a second-tier match against West Bromwich Albion in 2019 so that he could place a bet with bookmakers.

Flamengo’s Henrique says he is innocent of spot fixing charges

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 01:04:18 +0000

November 12 – Flamengo player Bruno Henrique has denied his involvement in match fixing after police raided 12 addresses linked to him.

Following Flamengo’s Copa do Brasil win, Henrique said: “Yes (I am innocent). I got a notification of the investigation in an aggressive way. I didn’t expect it the way it was, but I believe in justice up there. God is a guy who always knows. My life, my trajectory, since I started playing football –

Police raid 12 addresses linked to Flamengo’s Bruno Henrique in spot-fixing probe

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:55:49 +0000

November 8 – Flamengo’s Bruno Henrique has been included in the latest Brazilian police swoop of individuals suspected of matchfixing.

Two days ago the Federal Police carried out 12 search and seizure warrants across of Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Vespasiano, Lagoa Santa, and Ribeirão das Neves.

Operation Spot Fixing, as it is officially known, was started by the Federal Police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Federal District, in collaboration with the Special Action Group to Combat Organised Crime – part of the Rio de Janeiro Public Ministry.

Brazil’s Luis Henrique denies spot-fixing allegations

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 08:44:43 +0000

October 25 – Botafogo and Brazil international Luiz Henrique has denied accusations of spot-fixing after Spanish authorities opened an investigation into his spell with Real Betis.

Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo reported that Spanish authorities launched a criminal investigation and have demanded testimony from Henrique, a Botafogo forward, because of alleged involvement in a match-fixing scheme when he played for Betis. Spain sent a formal request to the Brazilian government in July of this year for Henrique’s deposition.

Benfica in corruption cauldron again as prosecutors call for club to be banned

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 05:45:42 +0000

October 17 – One of the legendary names of European football, S. L. Benfica, is being investigated for possible match-fixing between 2016 and 2019. The two-time champions of the European Cup have called the accusations “unfounded”.

The Portuguese media reported that the indictment had been issued by the public prosecutor’s office who are asking for Benfica to be suspended from sporting competition for a period of six months to three years.

The club released a statement saying: “Benfica and its lawyers will analyze in detail the accusation of which they were notified today.”

AFC increases its firepower in fight against match-fixing with IBIA co-operation

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 13:29:04 +0000

October 7 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have signed a four-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) to combat match fixing in the Asian region.

The agreement comes just four weeks after the Chinese FA banned 43 people, including 38 players and five club officials for life following a two-year investigation into match fixing.

A Sportradar study outlined Asia had the highest increase in match fixing reports in 2023.

Yellow card spot-fixing probe links Luis Henrique to Lucas Paquetá’s family

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 01:30:47 +0000

September 27 – The spot fixing investigation into the alleged deliberate soliciting yellow cards by Brazil and West Ham’s Lucas Paquetá has taken another turn with another Brazilian player, Luiz Henrique, being linked to Paquetá and his family.

Brazilian media portal UOL has proof of bank transfers showing that Paqueta’s relatives made payments totaling R$40,000 ($7,500) to Henrique, currently playing at Botafogo on loan from Marseilles.

The money transfers raised suspicions because they coincided with games in which Luiz Henrique received yellow cards playing for Real Betis before his transfer this season to Botafogo.

Fury at Futsal World Cup as French accused of rigging match to get easier knockout route

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 13:20:13 +0000

September 26 – The Futsal World Cup has exploded into controversy, with coaches making accusations of match-fixing following a heavy defeat for France against Iran.

Rivals have complained about the manner of the French performance in a 4-1 loss, a result that opened up a potentially easier passage through the tournament for Les Bleus in Uzbekistan.

After a lifeless first half, Iran easily prevailed after France conceded a soft opening goal in the second,

South Korea’s Son Jun-ho says he was coerced into match-fixing confession by Chinese police

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 10:03:39 +0000

September 16 – South Korea’s Suwon FC are reported to have terminated international midfielder Son Jun-ho’s contract by mutual agreement after he was handed a lifetime ban by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) for his alleged involvement in match-fixing and bribery.

Son has denied the accusations made by Chinese authorities who announced last week that he was among 38 players banned.

The 32-year-old, who had been playing at the time in the Chinese Super League with Shandong Taishan FC,

China issues lifetime bans to 38 players and five club officials for match-fixing

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 11:31:55 +0000

September 10 – China’s purge of football-related corruption has reached unprecedented levels after the country banned 43 people for life over allegations of match-fixing, bribery and other forms of wrongdoing.

With the national team still performing woefully on the pitch details have been released of a “two-year investigation that uncovered a series of online gambling, match-fixing and bribery cases.”

The state-run news agency Xinhua said 120 matches in domestic leagues, 128 criminal suspects and 41 clubs were implicated in the investigation.

German police open match-fixing probe into 17 lower league matches

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 11:11:46 +0000

September 9 – Police in Germany have confirmed they are investigating potential match-fixing in 17 lower-league matches in connection with sports betting platforms.

Authorities in the western states of Hesse and Saarland said they were looking into “conspicuous” matches in their jurisdictions, while Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) confirming it was “involved in the process in its role as central coordinator.”

The investigations follow initial reporting by the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper according to which matches from Germany’s professional third division (3.

Panamanian police arrest three players on suspicion of match-fixing

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 11:23:24 +0000

September 5 – Three footballers were arrested in Panama on Tuesday for allegedly accepting payments to fix matches in the Panamanian Football League (LPF) to influence betting outcomes, according to the Panamanian Attorney General’s Office.

At a press conference, the prosecutor against organised crime, Emeldo Márquez, announced that two current players and a former player from the Panamanian league have been arrested on charges related to match-fixing. The names of the players and their clubs were not disclosed,

Match-fixing threat leaps in Conmebol region with 200% increase in suspicious matches identified

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 10:44:03 +0000

August 9 – Betting related match-fixing is on the increase in South America, according to the latest six-monthly data from sports integrity specialists Starlizard Integrity Services (SIS) who tracked 36,841 matches in the 1 January and 30 June 2024 period.

Starlizard identified 79 matches as suspicious (Starlizard analyse the betting markets for unusual activity) with Conmebol countries showing what Starlizard calls a “worrying” 200% increase in suspicious matches overall.

A huge 21.55% of suspicious matches (17 in total) were identified from just one country in the Conmebol region,

Eto’o cleared of match-fixing charges but fined for 1XBET promotional role

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 08:06:39 +0000

July 5 – Cameroon football chief Samuel Eto’o has been cleared of match-fixing, but the former FC Barcelona star has been fined $200,000 by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for his role as brand ambassador for controversial bookmaker 1XBET.

In a statement on Thursday, CAF said: “Mr Eto’o was facing charges of alleged manipulation of football matches and violating the principles of ethics and integrity. The Disciplinary Board ruled that as it stands,

Brazil’s CBF launches match-fixing whistleblowers app

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 08:57:07 +0000

July 3 – In response to a parliamentary commission of enquiry (CPI), the Brazilian Confederation of Football (CBF) will set up a centralised reporting tool for match-fixing.

Fans, players and other stakeholders will be able to report cases of suspected match-fixing by telephone, by Internet and using a smartphone app.

Later this week, senators will consider requests regarding recent allegations of match manipulation.

Estevam Soares, former Patrocinense coach, Danilo Maluf,

Aussie A-League ends Davila contract over match-fixing scandal

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 06:23:06 +0000

June 25 – Australian A-League club Macarthur has terminated the contract of captain Ulises Davila on the same day the Mexican midfielder appeared in court over allegations he helped to lead a match-fixing scandal.

Davila signed a two-year contract extension with the club earlier this year but was arrested in May over his alleged involvement in a scheme where Macarthur players were to deliberately receive yellow cards.

The club issued a two-line statement Monday saying Davila’s contract had been terminated by “mutual” agreement.