Match-fixing operations have resulted in murders committed by organised crime gangs in Europe

Speaking at the launch of an anti-corruption initiative between Fifa and Interpol aimed at targeting match-fixing, Commissioner Friedhelm Althans, of the Bochum police department, said he believed there had been killings resulting from attempts to rig football matches.
“I can’t identify the people who have died, but certainly I believe it [has happened]. This is a special form of organised crime, a new phenomenon in Europe. In Asia we have seen this for many years but in Europe this problem was not so obvious.”
Althans is leading the largest investigation of its kind into the suspected manipulation of more than 300 matches in 20 European countries, including games in World Cup qualifying groups and the Champions and Europa Leagues.
Bribes worth £1.5 million have been paid to players, referees and officials but the sum is “just the tip of the iceberg,” said Althans. “We have indeed seen there is a worldwide network of people active in this field.”
Althans said that match-fixing was attractive to organised crime. “It is low-risk, high-profit. That is a system that works for them. Years ago they were working in international drug trafficking. That is difficult and dangerous, but here they have a very low risk and earn much more money.”

 

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