6
ISSUE № 10, SEPT 2014
The “GAMe” of MATch fixinG And sporT
Match fixing occurs when teams or individuals intention-
group game the day before, and West Germany and Aus-
ally loses a game, or do not perform to their best to ob-
tria knew that a West German win by an exacting 1 or 2
tain a perceived future financial or competitive ad-
goals would qualify them both. After 10 minutes of all-
vantage. When motivated by gambling, it requires con-
out attack, West Germany scored. After the goal was
tacts between gamblers, players, team officials, and/or
scored, the two teams kicked the ball around aimlessly
even referees. In most times such is often difficult to
for the rest of the match. As a result, FIFA changed its
prove. It can manifest itself in as simple things as irra-
tournament scheduling for subsequent World Cups so
tionally made substitutions and or keeping good players
that the final pair of matches in each group are now
out due to phantom injuries. As a dated sporting activity
played simultaneously.
in itself, its occurrence can be sited as way back as 1919
Most notable examples at the Summer Olympics oc-
in which it is perceived that several members of the Chi-
curred when 4 badminton teams were disqualified for
cago White Sox conspired with gamblers to fix the
intentionally losing matches to allow better pairings in
World Series.
the knockout stages of the competition. The Badminton
Beyond gambling reasons, Match fixing can also occur
World Federation charged the four pairs with
when through throwing a match, a team can face an easi-
“deliberately underperforming”. Even Cricket has been
er opponent in the next round, making them more likely
scandalized by gambling and match fixing allegations. In
to win. In the case of the North American draft it can be
the case of Hansie Cronje, the former South African cap-
claimed that historically in order to secure a higher pick
tain was banned from playing or coaching cricket for life.
in the leagues next draft, games were thrown deliberately
In terms of T&T the most popular incident could well be
especially with the team already out of contention. But
in the 1974 World Cup Finals when T&T lost a crucial
also At times deliberately losing a game could be the
game against hosts Haiti 2–1 after being denied five
result of a planned protest action and or as in the case of
goals. The referee, José Roberto Henríquez and linesman
commercial wrestling to provide entertainment value.
James Higuet were subsequently banned for life by FIFA
One of the most famous incidents occurred in the 1982
for the dubious events of the match. In these cases the
FIFA World Cup . Algeria had already won their final
damage of match fixing is very hard to digest.