Did Chineses murder victims pay price for gambling scam?
Feb 5 2010 by Michael Kelly, The Journal
A report this week has said that British sport is open to betting scams and a special anti-corruption unit was needed to keep it in check. MIKE KELLY reports
“The financial power of UK football is moving towards Asia and the Middle East. These are the only markets left with the financial clout to buy and save UK clubs. Who knows if the money is straight or bent?”
Match Fixer by Neil Humphreys is published by Marshall Cavendish and will be released on February 18, costing £8.99.
Anti-corruption unit proposed
THE Sports Betting Intelligence Unit has been proposed by Rick Parry, the former chief executive of Liverpool football club, and a panel of experts who were commissioned last summer by sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe to look into the issue.
If it is formed it will be based at the Gambling Commission which regulates commercial gambling in the UK.
It is understood that several cases of suspected criminal activity related to sport, including football, have effectively been ignored because there are no clear guidelines at present over who should handle them.
In some cases, a sports governing body has passed responsibility to the Gambling Commission, which has then asked for police help only to be told it is not in the public interest to pursue betting allegations when resources are needed elsewhere.
Parry’s recommendations set out in detail how a coordinated strategy would tackle betting corruption most effectively.
Governing bodies will be required to improve education programmes to warn players against illicit gambling, those who admit to problems will be offered access to appropriate advice and counselling, while a “dedicated whistleblowing line” should be established.
Other key proposals are a new code of conduct for sports governing bodies, that each of them have their own intelligence gathering system to report to the proposed unit and a review of the maximum sentence – currently two years – of those convicted.
