The Sports Bookie Blog

Serie A Match Fixing Trail Verdict Looms

July 13th, 2006

Match fixing in Italian football seems to have been going on for years – and most punters were aware of it – even if nothing had ever come out.

 The big two clubs of Juventus and AC Milan always seemed to get the “rub of the decisions” when required, and the numbner of times that they won 1-0 through a late and/or disputed goal defied belief.

However that didn’t affect punters too much – because as I say it was common knowledge – and the simple way to profit from the “late goal” effect was simply to back these sides to win all their home games at any price – except when they played each other.

Italian club football mirrors Italian life, it is riddled with influence and arrangements, and many of the big movers behind the clubs really do not see anything wrong with the current set-up.

But now the authorities have caught up with them and relegation looms for Juventus (maybe down two levels to Serie C) which may lead to a firesale of players by the grand old lady.

Of course AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina are also implicated to a lessor degree … and AC Milan president (and ex Italian Prime Minister) Silvio Berusconi has launched an attack on the process saying that relegation would be unfair to players, fans, sponsors and television companies …

(really – the Television companies are supposed to come before fair play?)

His words speak volumes for the level of match arrangements that go on in Italian soccer – we’ve also all seen the “arranged draws” that go on late in the season when both sides would prefer to get a point and bookmakers mark the draw result down as low as 1.70 (from 3.20) but still get many, many takers.

Berlusconi, who has obviously seen and participated in many events has obviously got so used to seeing (and arranging?) these events that he no longer sees any real problem in the concept of pre-determining results.

Perhaps Mr Berlusconi has an inflated idea of his own self importance – given his success in business, politics and sport – but with a public outburst like this I think that the Italian authorities have no choice but to relegate all four sides in order to ram home the point.

The descision is due on Friday – and anything less than relegation for all four clubs would be a travesty and unfair on the clubs that actually have been trying to win football matches on the pitch.

 

Entry Filed under: Sports News & Results