Morning fellow forumites! Just reading that more than 20 Italian football teams are to be informed that they are facing investigation as an Italian inquiry into match-fixing reaches a new phase. Admittedly this isn't the top Italian league but... How worrying is this? I have a distant memory of a Sheff Weds scandal back in the 60's, was it Peter Swan, but can't remember anything significant in this country in more recent times. Unless we count Bruce! Most of our domestic football get's so much coverage these days that surely a blatant fix would be blindingly obvious wouldn't it? That said how many times a season are we amazed by the things players do in games and the bizarre decisions by referees? So question - do we think match fixing happens in this country and how concerned should we all be?
The only game that looks like should be investigated is the Brighton v West Ham game in my book. I wonder how much money changed hands to accommodate a 6 .0 score line. I'm only kidding...but it does make you be a bit suspicious I have to admit!!
I would say that match fixing as such doesn't happen. However with the variety of bets now available I'm sure that there is some skullduggery around. For example, in cricket where they bet on the number of no-balls in an over; or, closer to home, Tiss' bet on the timing of the first throw-in.
It's completely possible. Personally I'd like to think 'match-fixing' isn't happening but with the kind of obscure things people bet on I would be really surprised if some sort of 'spot-fixing' wasn't going on, like we saw with the Pakistan cricket team recently (and I believe it's not just them in cricket as well). Number of corners, time of first throw in, etc, are all very easily influenced and just about impossible to spot. Didn't Le Tiss say he was involved in one of those once? Edit: I see Lff got in there before me on that one! Spooky how similar our posts are!
I think you should be investigated for letting Bristol City beat you twice. A 50 point penalty should just about do the trick
The Le Tiss thing was an April 1995 match at Wimbledon, Le Tiss stood to win "well into four figures" after betting on the time of the first throw-in. After kicking off, he tried to overhit a pass to unsuspecting teammate Neil Shipperley, but due to nerves, underhit it and Shipperley was able to keep the ball in play. Le Tiss revealed he had "never run so much" in his life as he tried to put the ball out of play to avoid losing money, with the ball eventually going out of play after 70 seconds, meaning Le Tissier and his associates neither won nor lost money. The CPS investigated but took no further action.
I have a friend well more of an acquaintance on Facebook who gives details of fixed games. He has given 5 free ones which have all come in and I have made some tidy profit from it. Most of these games have been in Germany or Italy but I have had one involving Tranmere and Exeter and one other League 1 game all these bets are on the Half Time- Full Time market. He now blocks out the names of the teams and asks you to inbox him for details but its way out of my range as he charges £1200 for the details. He does however post screen shots after the game showing he won. Read into what you want but something isn't quite right here.
Southampton 0 Tottenham Hotspur 0 April 1978. Both teams then promoted to Division 1. A heavy defeat for Saints against the highest scoring team with the best away record, or a defeat for Spurs by the team with the best home record and Brighton would have been promoted. FIX!!
Juventus were stripped of a league title and relegated to the 2nd division a few years ago after being found guilty of match fixing. AC Milan were also punished and several other teams. I think referees were also involved - it was a huge scandal. Italian football does tend to be more controversial than any other country. I don't see it being a big issue in this country - maybe the odd incident but not on the scale of what has happened in Italy.
I wax at that game Lambo and much as we didn't care at the time it did seem odd. Can't remember there even being many chances either.
Hmm, yes. I'd love to see Adkins' post-mortem on those two particular games. Plus, I want to see whether he uses a felt tip or a Biro for his blue line.
Call me cynical but I wonder if MLT used a bit of artistic licence when he retold that story. Maybe they did try and concede the first throw in but I don't really buy it myself. In general, I don't think there is any evidence of match fixing in England. For a developed country Italy has a huge criminal underworld so more at risk to things like genuine match rigging.
