Nine people have been arrested over alleged match-fixing in multiple soccer fixtures in Hong Kong, the city’s anti-corruption watchdog said late on Tuesday.
“Nine persons, including professional football players, were arrested for alleged bribery in rigging the results of football matches involving a local football club,” the Independent Commission Against Corruption said in a statement, without specifying names of the players or the club.
“Inquiries revealed that the sponsor’s representative and the executive officer might have offered advantages to the players of the football club as rewards for their participation in rigging football match results,” the statement said.
The Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA), which regulates the former British colony’s professional league, confirmed that an investigation was underway, but refused to comment on the arrests.
“It’s not a Hong Kong issue, it’s a worldwide issue. We have no room for complacency,” HKFA chief executive Mark Sutcliffe said.
The southern Chinese city has a low-key soccer scene, with each top division game often attracting less than a thousand spectators.
Sutcliffe admitted that the league could be more vulnerable to rigging as players are poorly paid amid low revenue streams for clubs.
“Our league may be more vulnerable than other places because our players and coaches are paid relatively poor wages, compared to leagues in some other countries,” he said.
The arrests were made on Sunday and involved six players, an executive officer of a soocer club, a representative of the sponsor of the club and a “corrupt associate,” the watchdog said.
The South China Morning Post previously reported that several Happy Valley players were being investigated after a match between the first division club and Sun Hei Sports Club, in which Happy Valley got beaten 5-0.
Last month, another first division club, Tuen Mun, was embroiled in a controversy after one of its defenders headed into his own net to allow the other side, Yokohama, to win 2-1 in stoppage-time.
Match-fixing has proved a chronic and growing blight on international soccer and can involve cross-border syndicates. In Britain, two Singaporean men were arrested for suspected match-fixing over lower-league English soccer in November last year.
In Singapore, 14 people were held in raids in September last year for match-fixing after a crackdown on one of the gangs linked to hundreds of rigged soccer matches worldwide.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely