Soccer match-fixing scandal

[Dick Whitman]

680 matches under suspicion, including some World Cup qualifiers and Champions League matches.

I don't really know the intricacies of the sport's structure, but am I wrong that this is huge? As in a lot bigger than the news cycle is treating it at this point?

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/match-fixing-probe-found-380-103613303--sow.html

 

[LongTimeListener]

It was pretty large yesterday and I think it's a big deal worldwide. But none of it happened in America.

I wasn't surprised about the African and Asian games and some of the World Cup qualifiers, because a lot of those guys don't earn much money. Can't for the life of me figure out what player would want/need to fix a Champions League match.

Soccer is one forked-up sport, though.

 

[Norrin Radd]

680 matches under suspicion, including some World Cup qualifiers and Champions League matches.

I don't really know the intricacies of the sport's structure, but am I wrong that this is huge? As in a lot bigger than the news cycle is treating it at this point?

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/match-fixing-probe-found-380-103613303--sow.html

Gotta know the matches before judging it.

If there is significant chicanery in European nations not named Italy, then this will be huge.

It won't be a blip here.

 

[Tarheel316]

680 matches under suspicion, including some World Cup qualifiers and Champions League matches.

I don't really know the intricacies of the sport's structure, but am I wrong that this is huge? As in a lot bigger than the news cycle is treating it at this point?

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/match-fixing-probe-found-380-103613303--sow.html

Gotta know the matches before judging it.

If there is significant chicanery in European nations not named Italy, then this will be huge.

It won't be a blip here.

Yep. Could be huge in Europe.

 

[PressRowsNotSafe]

One of the strangest things when I first started following association football/soccer overseas was seeing sites like Bet365.com sponsored on players' kits.

It's a huge deal. Reportedly two Champions Leagues matches involved. Also, World Cup qualifiers, even more significant in my eyes. Again, not going to blow up here, but it will permeate some of the shows like Behind the Lines potentially and whatnot when more details emerge, even though it will likely deserve the kind of attention that Armstrong got. With that and all the racism issues still bubbling, all a black eye.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Don't you mean "Outside The Lines"? "Behind The Lines" is an excellent opening album track by Genesis.

Carry on.

 

[YankeeFan]

Don't you mean "Outside The Lines"? "Behind The Lines" is an excellent opening album track by Genesis.

Carry on.

Under the Tunes.

 

[93Devil]

Very little traction here.

In the rest of the world, massive.

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

MLS will be affected, if it already hasn't. The Asian gambling cartels have influence everywhere.

And this is not about outcomes. It's about victory margins and the long odds that go with them.

Read the book by Declan Hill on the matter.

 

[Dick Whitman]

What tipped them off?

A rash of games with two goals scored?

 

[Stoney]

Says the probe uncovered $2.7 million in bribes to players and officials, and then quotes an investigator as saying that's just "the tip of the iceberg." So, yeah, sounds to me like this could be mighty huge.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

I've not seen the complete list of suspicious matches, but I'd guess most involve group stage matches or Asian league matches. I can't imagine they'd be able to bribe, say, QPR players to lay down to Fulham or get Howard Webb to give more Fergie time to United.

The prevailing attitude in soccer world reminds me of that in cycling world when PEDs became a story there. It's "yeah, we know some matches are fixed, but it's no big deal."