UEFA uncovers UEFA Europa League match-fixing

Posted on Thursday, March 26th, 2009 at 2:03 pm and is filed under News.

UEFA is preparing to unveil the latest match-fixing scandal to hit football.

According to Europe’s governing body, one of the European clubs participating in the qualifying rounds of the 2008/2009 UEFA Europa League will be formally charged with match fixing within days.

While match-fixing is difficult to detect and prevent, UEFA have proof of irregular betting patterns that combined with unexpected results for several early season games featuring an as yet unnamed European club.

“There are number of cases we have been looking at,” UEFA general secretary David Taylor told a news conference. “It’s very complex and very difficult to find proof. But within the next couple of days we will be issuing charges against one club.”

A total of 10 matches from the current UEFA Europa League season are under investigation, while another 15 from the previous UEFA Europa League season have also come under scrutiny. The unveiling of match-fixing scams is part of a new UEFA drive to stamp out match fixing in Europe.

“UEFA is setting up this betting fraud detection system across Europe to include 27,000 matches in the first and second division in each national association,” Taylor said. “Only a few matches cause us problems but we are determined to root out this problem.”