The Biggest Betting Scandals in European Football
Let’s take a look at some of the biggest betting scandals in European football. Football (you know, the game you play with your feet!) has been marred by several major betting scandals over the years. These are some of the most significant ones:
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The Calciopoli Scandal (2006)
Involving several of Italy’s top clubs, including Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio, and Reggina, the Calciopoli scandal revealed that club officials had influenced the selection of referees to favor their teams.
This scandal led to Juventus being stripped of their 2005 and 2006 Serie A titles and relegated to Serie B. Other clubs faced point deductions and fines.
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The Totonero Scandal (1980)
Another major scandal in Italy, the Totonero scandal, involved illegal betting and match-fixing. Several top players and clubs, including AC Milan and Lazio, were implicated.
As a result, AC Milan and Lazio were relegated to Serie B, and numerous players received bans.
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The Bochum Scandal (2009)
This scandal involved a German-led investigation that uncovered a match-fixing ring affecting games in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Hungary, Bosnia, Austria, and even the Champions League.
It led to arrests and convictions of several individuals, including players and referees, who had manipulated matches for betting purposes.
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The Scommessopoli Scandal (2011)
This scandal involved widespread match-fixing in Italian football, particularly in Serie B and Lega Pro.
Several high-profile players and coaches were implicated, including former Italian international Giuseppe Signori.
The investigation revealed that criminal organizations had influenced the outcomes of numerous matches.
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The Portuguese ‘Golden Whistle’ Scandal (2004)
The Golden Whistle scandal involved allegations of bribery and corruption in Portuguese football.
The investigation focused on FC Porto and Boavista, with accusations that referees had been bribed to favor these clubs.
Several referees and club officials were indicted, and FC Porto’s then-president, Pinto da Costa, was heavily scrutinized.
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The Greek Match-Fixing Scandal (2011)
This scandal involved more than 80 individuals, including club officials, players, and referees, who were accused of fixing matches in the Greek Super League and lower divisions.
The investigation uncovered that several matches had been manipulated for betting purposes, leading to numerous arrests and charges.
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The Turkish Match-Fixing Scandal (2011)
Involving several clubs in the Turkish Süper Lig, including Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş, and Trabzonspor, this scandal led to the arrest of Fenerbahçe’s president and other officials.
The Turkish Football Federation banned several individuals from football activities and UEFA banned Fenerbahçe from European competitions for two seasons.
These scandals have had significant repercussions, including legal actions, bans, and reforms within football governing bodies to combat match-fixing and illegal betting.
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