Press furores considering sports betting arise from time to time. In most cases they are connected with fixed games, judges briberies and other ambiguous events. Such machinations often were connected with heavyweights. Probably, you’ve heard about some of them. If not, then we recommend you to read this article.
Corruption scandal in Italian football
In 2006, one of the juicy scandals in the history of football was discovered. Several teams of the two top divisions of the country were involved in it:
- Juventus;
- AC Milan;
- Lazio;
- Fiorentina;
- Regina.
Wired recordings of club managers and judges were published, according to which the parties agreed on the results of the matches. As a result, many teams and some individuals were accused of corruption. The clubs were deprived of their awards and of the opportunity to participate in prestigious Championships etc.
Some figures faced more serious sanctions. Antonio Giraudo, executive director of Juventus, was disqualified for life from football. Following the results of the investigation, which finished in 2011, Luciano Moggi received 5,4 years in prison.
The Black Sox Scandal
One of the most scandalous matches in World Series history took part in 1919. Eight players of Chicago White Sox got lifetime ban after they were accused of intentionally losing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for money from gamblers. Among them was baseball star Joe Jackson. He was only 25 years old and had amazing achievement of 356 hits.
Scandalous match also ended the career of Eddie Cicotte, who turned out to be the best pitcher of the season with result 29-7 in 30 matches. The sentence was handed down in 1921.
Eyewitness say that in 1920 after Joe Jackson gave a speech, a boy ran to the star. The teenager asked baseball player to say that it wasn’t true and all these fixed matches are nonsense, but Joe admitted his guilt.
Fixed Matches of College Teams
Basketball teams of universities have always attracted a lot of attention of the fans (especially in the USA). 1951 was the year of a great scandal because of the massive participation of players in fixed matches. We can highlight a couple of facts:
- 35 athletes were accused of bribery;
- From 1947 to 1951, 86 fixed matches were identified;
- The guilt of 20 basketball players was proven;
- Careers of many athletes and coaches were ruined.
Among the most famous athletes of the scandal implicated in the scandal were Sherman White, Jack Molinas, LLex Grose and others. Many of them were banned by NBA for life, though they would have had a wonderful career in the Premier League. For instance, White could be compared with Michael Jordan if he had not been suspended.
The scandal with fixed matches was recognized as one of the most notorious in the history of New York in XX century.
March Madness
Rick Neuheisel was coaching a football team of one of the universities of Washington till June 2003. He ass fired for making sports bets for “March Madness”.
Despite participating in gambling, that didn’t violate working with campus. The coach sued the University and got compensation of 4,5 million dollars.
That’s about it. What is your attitude towards fixed matches? Maybe you have examples like that?
