Recent convictions of players and referees for soccer match fixing in Europe and Africa reveal how pervasive this multi-billion dollar global criminal enterprise has become, particularly in lower division or emerging leagues similar to Major League Soccer (MLS). In those leagues, players generally are not paid a great deal and games have less scrutiny by media and authorities, making them ripe for exploitation by illegal gambling organizations taking advantage of real-time opportunities on the Internet.
Watchdog organizations cite MLS as a league that could be particularly susceptible to manipulation because of its increasing prestige and telecast distribution, low salaries, and churn of international players entering and leaving MLS on brief contracts, some only a few months long.
The extent of match fixing corruption was recently documented by FIFPro, the global union for professional soccer players, when they released The Black Book with results of their survey of 3,400 players in Eastern and Southern Europe. That survey showed that 24% of those professional players are aware of match fixing in their league and that figure jumped to 44% in Russia. FIFPro also reported that 12% of soccer players have been approached to fix the result of a game and that figure soared to 30% in Greece.
MLS invested in protecting the game
February 10, MLS Executive Vice President Nelson Rodriguez revealed to me the steps the League has taken to help maintain the integrity of MLS in an era of increasing corruption in the sport.
“MLS is committed to protecting the integrity of our game,” said Rodriguez. “We proactively monitor the sports betting industry at several levels, we monitor local activity, and we educate our staff, players and officials about warning signs and consequences.
MLS is a member of FIFA’s Early Warning System that monitors sports betting world-wide. MLS is also a member of ESSA, the European Sports Security Association, helping to protect our League sport from corruption. Utilizing FIFA's and ESSA’s early warnings systems, MLS would quickly and efficiently be informed of fraudulent activity or manipulation taking place related to its games.
Additionally, MLS coordinates with a Las Vegas-based consultant to monitor and respond to any irregular gambling activity on our games. The League also employs Soccer Security Agents – off-duty and active law enforcement agents – in every MLS market who can investigate and react on behalf of the League.
In January, MLS conducted training with staff from all 19 clubs to improve awareness about the potential dangers of match fixing. During preseason, MLS conducts educational seminars with all players about staying out of harm’s way, including the dangers and ramifications of gambling and match fixing.” – Nelson Rodriguez
Despite precautions, match fixing continues apace
FIFA’s Early Warning System (EWS), a non-profit agency based in Zurich, monitors sports betting on all FIFA tournaments and offers technical and manpower support. EWS has cooperation agreements with over 400 bookmakers and betting organizations to report any irregular betting activities to EWS, who are in contact with Interpol. FIFA established an early warning system prior to 2006 World Cup Germany and formalized the system in 2007. EWS monitored all 2010 World Cup matches and preliminaries and all other FIFA competitions, including U-20 Women's World Cup Germany 2010, U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009, U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009 and Club World Cup UAE 2009.
The European Sports Security Association (ESSA), established in 2005, is Europe’s leading sports integrity monitoring unit and includes as members Europe’s foremost private sector bookmakers, representing tens of thousands offline and online individual bets each week. A non-profit organization funded by its members, ESSA is partner to over 20 sports governing bodies including EPFL, The FA, DFB, WTA and MLS, with whom it has Memorandums of Understanding in place, and is partner to sports regulators, including the IOC.
Yet, even under the scrutiny of these organizations, match fixing continues apace. In December, Italian authorities made 17 arrests, including of Cristiano Doni, after investigation of Italian Serie B matches, reaching into Serie A.
"At the top of the organization are men from Singapore who are those who move the money,” prosecutor Roberto Di Martino told The Guardian, “but the shareholders are divided from the West, to the Far East, to South America and they manage with their men how to change the outcome of football matches.”
Germany and Turkey have been roiled by charges and convictions and in Zimbabwe, 80 players were recently suspended and the FA’s former chief executive now faces charges of paying national team players and officials to lose games. FIFA is also investigating match fixing in World Cup 2010 African qualifiers.
It would surprise many MLS fans in rather empty stadiums to discover that some of those games are watched and heavily bet on overseas, particularly in Asia. According to a 2011 report by Interpol, in Asia alone illegal betting revenues are estimated at $500 billion. The same report stated that during the final stage of the European championships and beginning of UEFA EURO 2008, 1,000 raids led to 1,300 arrests, where $1.4 billion in bets were interdicted and almost $17 million in cash was seized. In just one month before 2010 World Cup, $10 million in cash was seized in raids and $155 million in illegal bets prevented.
How match fixing works
Around the world, it’s often the worst teams that are manipulated as the players have less to play for, know that fewer people are watching their games and feel that the results don’t matter anyway. Players halfway through their brief careers are looking toward the impending end and are increasingly vulnerable to match fixers as they look to secure greater income while they can and fulfill fading dreams of celebrity lifestyles.
It’s reported that individual players can make thousands of dollars for losing one regular season game and more in tournaments. There’s also spot fixing, where players are paid for earning yellow and red cards, certain numbers of throw-ins, corner kicks, attempts on goal, own goals, etc. - options on which bets can be placed. Teammates, particularly younger and those of lesser status, are put in awkward positions, where complaining could jeopardize their tentative status and even their career.
For fans, watching a fixed game is similar to watching a game played the week before where the results are already known. It is no longer an event, a test of human mettle, physical and tactical superiority, but more of an exercise or inside joke from which fans are excluded. Skepticism replaces the excitement of a real game. Sponsors look for alternatives.
MLS and the challenge ahead
In 2010, Declan Hill, author of The Fix, told me that MLS players had complained to him that some of their teammates were working for gambling organizations by supplying inside information on injuries and availability. Although that alone doesn’t indicate players and referees are fixing the results of games, it does indicate that fixers are working within MLS and that some players have established, profitable relationships with match fixers.
There is a lot at stake. MLS has grown in leaps and bounds in the past few years – constructing beautiful new stadiums, bringing in talented internationals, building academies to develop their own young signings and growing passionate supporters groups who bring atmosphere to every game. The heavily invested LA Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders, and FC Dallas lead MLS in quality play and management and guarantee high entertainment value at games. In 2011, MLS attendance overtook the NBA to become the No. 3 sport in the USA and in 2012 MLS kicks off the season with ambitious new broadcaster NBC, looking for even greater reach.
The 2012 season will also be one of greater awareness, stemming from increased international interest and a wider swath of domestic fans. The integrity of MLS is essential when the League shows so much promise, almost without boundary, and has so much to offer the United States. That bright future could be undone by corruption at even one franchise, which would tarnish the glowing prospects of MLS, poised for excellence.
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