Match-fixing in football
Match-fixing in football has been a recurring issue that undermines the integrity of the sport. While some investigations have been publicized, here are a few notable football leagues and tournaments where match-fixing cases have been investigated or suspected over the years:
### 1. **Serie A (Italy)**
- **2006 Calciopoli Scandal**: One of the most famous match-fixing scandals in football, this involved top Serie A clubs, including Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio, and Fiorentina. It was discovered that club officials had influenced referee appointments to favor their teams.
- Juventus was relegated to Serie B as punishment, and several teams were docked points or given other penalties.
### 2. **Turkish Super Lig**
- **2011 Match-Fixing Scandal**: Several top Turkish clubs, including Fenerbahçe, were implicated in match-fixing allegations. Fenerbahçe was excluded from the UEFA Champions League for the 2011–12 season due to its involvement.
### 3. **La Liga (Spain)**
- **2018 Real Valladolid vs. Valencia**: A La Liga match between Real Valladolid and Valencia in May 2018 came under investigation after allegations of match-fixing emerged. Some Valladolid players were accused of intentionally losing the match.
### 4. **Belgian First Division A**
- **Operation "Clean Hands” (2018)**: A major match-fixing investigation, targeting top clubs like Anderlecht and Club Brugge, was initiated to investigate corruption, money laundering, and match-fixing in Belgium’s top-flight football league. Several arrests were made, and clubs were penalized.
### 5. **Greek Super League**
- **Ongoing Investigations**: Greek football has had several match-fixing allegations over the years, with both domestic league and cup matches being investigated. In 2011, many Greek football figures were charged, including players and club officials.
### 6. **Portuguese Primeira Liga**
- **Apito Dourado (Golden Whistle) Scandal**: In the early 2000s, Portuguese football was rocked by a match-fixing investigation that implicated several clubs, including FC Porto. The scandal involved bribing referees to influence match outcomes.
### 7. **Asian Football (AFC Matches)**
- **Numerous Match-Fixing Cases**: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has seen numerous match-fixing investigations, particularly in lower leagues and international fixtures. Singaporean Wilson Raj Perumal, a notorious match-fixer, was linked to manipulating results in multiple Asian countries.
### 8. **FIFA and International Matches**
- **2011 FIFA Scandal**: FIFA officials themselves have been involved in corruption and bribery investigations, affecting the credibility of international matches and tournament bids. Some friendly matches, particularly involving less prominent nations, have also been flagged for suspicious betting patterns.
- International friendlies are often targeted due to lower scrutiny and lack of importance compared to competitive fixtures.
### 9. **English Football Leagues**
- Although less frequent than in other countries, England has had its share of investigations. Lower league matches have been probed for suspicious betting activity, though no major Premier League scandals have emerged in recent times. In 2013, several lower-league players were arrested as part of an investigation into match-fixing.
### 10. **South African Football**
- **2010 Match-Fixing Investigation**: In the run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, several South African national team friendlies were investigated for match-fixing, with suspicions that referees were manipulated by international match-fixing syndicates.
### 11. **Chinese Super League**
- **Multiple Cases**: Chinese football has had numerous match-fixing scandals, particularly in the late 1990s and 2000s. Several players, referees, and club officials have been banned for life as part of ongoing efforts to clean up the league.
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These are just some of the high-profile cases, and match-fixing remains a global concern, with investigations continually uncovering new instances. Suspicious betting patterns, referee bias, and inside information often lead to these investigations being triggered.