12 football players and coaches arrested over suspicion of match-fixing in Hong Kong
- Suspects are from three teams and are accused of manipulating results of matches after illegal bets were placed on outcome
- Independent Commission Against Corruption says Premier League games played during current season, as well as Division Two matches in two seasons believed to be affected
Hong Kong’s anti-corruption agency has arrested 12 football players and coaches for allegedly fixing matches and placing illegal bets on games over the course of three seasons.
Armed with search warrants, officers from the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) raided more than 20 premises on Monday and said the “backbone members” and the mastermind of the syndicate were taken into custody.
“Their bribery process was not very smooth, but such acts are like a virus which could infect the football league,” ICAC Principal Investigator Matthew Chang Chor-ming said, adding the agency began gathering evidence last year.
Officers arrested a head coach and two players of a football club belonging to the Hong Kong Premier League; a coach and four players of a club with the Second Division of Hong Kong; and a player of another Hong Kong Second Division club.
Three other men were also arrested on suspicion of acting as betting agents, and Chang said they were a head coach and players belonging to different teams. The dozen suspects were aged 24 to 54.
Two coaches from North District were summoned to the ICAC offices on Monday, according to sources.
