1. The Dark Side of Sports
Match Fixing

2. Match Fixing
Meaning
The action or practice of dishonestly determining the outcome of a match before it is played

3. Why Is It An Issue? Violates the rules of the game
And often, the law
Destroys the integrity of the game
Ruins the enjoyment for the millions of fans and viewers

4. Why Does Match Fixing Occur?
The main reason is linked to gambling
Usually involves athletes, gamblers, officials, coaches, and/or referees
When athletes, referees, officials, or coaches get involved with gamblers, it is typically because they are getting a portion of the winnings.

5. Other Reasons For Match Fixing
Other reasons for match-fixing are to give a player or team an advantage in some way, which could include:
Better draft pick
Some leagues, such as the NFL, have a system where the worst team from that season gets the first round pick in the draft
Some NFL teams have been suspected of losing games on purpose in order to finish last so they can get that first draft pick
Easier playoff or draw in a tournament
Finishing in a certain place may give one a better/easier draw or playoff match
Easier/better schedule for the next year
In the NFL, if a team finishes in a certain way in their division, then they may have a much easier schedule the following year, increasing their chances for a better season and possibly a playoff run

6. Examples of Match Fixing Occuring
Football—Italian League
“Totonero” or “Black Lottery Scandal
Several players were caught placing bets on the results of their own teams
AC Milan and Lazio Roma were relegated to Serie , and the star striker of the Italian National Team was suspended for 2 years
“Calcioscommesse”
In 2012, several players and team managers were found to have ties with local and international Mafia organizations
They committed sports fraud to help these groups’ money laundering activities
The Mafia paid off players to “throw” games
Players and managers were sanctioned, having to forfeit the Euro competition and face a 10 month suspension

7. Examples of Match Fixing Occuring
Tennis
In a Polish tournament in 2007, Russian tennis player, Nikolay Davidenko, ranked 4th in the ATP table, was due to play the Argentine Martin Vassallo Arguello, ranked 107th of the same table.
After Davidenko won the first set, the odds for a Arguello victory shot through the roof, causing a detection of suspicious gambling activity from within the Russian Federation. Davidenko then lost the second set before forfeiting
Seemed to confirm doubts that the Russian player “threw” the match and colluded with gamblers in Russia
The ATP investigation, however, could not find evidence of sports fraud against the Russian player

8. Examples of Match Fixing Occuring
Horse Racing
In 2011, the British Horseracing Authority revealed a scandal surrounding races going back to 2009.
The BHA’s report states how in 2009, several horse owners and certain jockeys deliberately threw races while their horses were favorites in the odd-books.
These fraudsters received sums of at least £6,000 for previously having colluded with bookmakers and announced their intentions to fix the races in advance.

9. Examples of Match Fixing Occuring
Baseball—Black Sox Scandal of 1919
8 players of the Chicago White Sox were accused of intentionally losing the 1919 Word Series against the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for money from gamblers.
After being investigated, 2 of the players confessed to fixing the World Series
They allegedly came up with the fixing plan because of poor treatment by the coach and were severely underpaid. Without unions and unable to switch teams, they felt this was the only way to make more money, as many players had other jobs to just to make ends meet
Despite acquittals in a public trial in 1921, Judge Landis permanently banned all eight men from professional baseball

10. Black Sox Scandal

11. Examples of Match Fixing Occuring
Cricket
In 2010, the British tabloid News of the World revealed that members of Pakistan’s national cricket team had accepted bribes to spot-fix during the test match series against England.
During one of the games, fast bowlers Amir and Asifwere found to have deliberately bowled no balls at particular moments in an over in exchange for money from a bookmaker.
With video evidence of the transaction supporting claims that players had accepted bribes, the ICC (International Cricket Council) decided to ban Salman Bett, Mohammad Asif, and Mohammad Amir for 5-10 years.
In addition, the court found the players guilty on criminal charges and gave the participants prison sentences from 6 months to 2.5 years

12. Match Fixing in Futbol
14/08/27/riddell-pkg-match-fixing- wilson-raj-perumal.cnn

13. How to Fix the Problem
Some organizations have come up with ways to fix the issue, or at least help prevent it from happening as much
Some use software that tracks betting trends before and during games/matches, while also monitoring the players’ quaility of play and effort during these times
This can help determine if a player, coach, referee, or team may be involved in some type of “fixing”
Coalitions have been created to educate young and adult athletes on match-fixing and prevention measures
Harsher punishments should be implemented to help prevent this from occuring as often. Most of the time, those involved just receive a suspension. Match fixing is against the law, and those involved should see prison time if anyone wants this problem to occur less