International scandal of match fixing

The Europol (European Police) has uncovered a web of corruption that extends internationally thirteen countries and has been investigated over 380 games played in Europe between 2009 and 2011, of which it is believed the crime proven to least 150 cases. Moreover, the matter may be further extended, for another 300 games than is suspected, in South America, Central America, Africa and Asia.

The countries involved include Turkey, with 79 cases, and Germany with 70, but the network also expanded by Britain, Switzerland, Finland, Hungary, Belgium, Croatia, Bosnia and Slovenia. As a director of research, the German police inspector, Fridehelm Althans, the scandal does not splash any Spanish club, or First Division matches, referees or Spanish players, but there are suspicions about any match played in our territory.

The criminal network was based in Singapore, but with branches throughout Europe. The system used is the usual gambling games where someone involved was bribed. The stakes are always made through internet and taking advantage of loopholes in multiple tax havens. The data of the research is the study of more than 13,000 emails.

Fraudulent activities moved more than eight million in benefits, to which should be added, as calculated, at least two million in bribes (they even paid up to 100,000 euros for a single case). Supposedly the criminal network would consist of at least 425 people, including players, referees and officials, although it is expected that this number will grow as they progress the investigation and arrests.

Among the investigated two qualifying matches for the World Cup (in Africa and Central America), two of UEFA Champions League and numerous national competitions of varying importance. Between the two Champions League matches, one of them seems to be a tie occurred on English soil, so from that data have been questioned fifteen continental meetings, among which there is a Chelsea-Liverpool (4-4), a Manchester United- CSKA Moscow (3-3), a Chelsea- APOEL (2-2) or the well-known Chelsea-Barcelona (1-1), remembered by some as the iniestazo and others about the poor performance of Obrevo.

One of the parties they sign up as a flagrant case was a duel between the U20 teams of Argentina and Bolivia, where the Hungarian referee added 13 minutes off without reason so warrants and ended with victory after a penalty called albiceleste more than dubious called in the 100th minute.