Two World Cup players have been reported to authorities over alleged spot-fixing concerns following controversial yellow card incidents that prompted an investigation.
The World Cup is anticipated to become one of the most-watched sporting events in history, drawing billions of viewers globally and sparking massive betting activity across worldwide markets. With bookmakers and prediction platforms accepting bets on everything from the next goalscorer to the tournament victor, integrity specialists have voiced concerns about the escalating threat of spot-fixing.
Unlike conventional match-fixing, spot-fixing involves manipulating particular incidents within a football match – such as yellow cards, corners or throw-ins – without necessarily influencing the final outcome. The substantial sums being staked on these micro-events have intensified fears that players and officials could be targeted by criminal betting syndicates looking to exploit the betting market.
The Athletic reports that at least two World Cup players, representing separate nations, have been referred by independent integrity specialists to the national federations of their respective club sides amid suspicions of spot-fixing.
One of the cases, which took place earlier this season, involves allegations that a player deliberately received a yellow card in a league fixture in order to trigger a suspension that would be served before a significant upcoming derby, thereby guaranteeing his availability for that match.
However, the scheme is understood to have been extensively discussed beforehand, leading to unusually elevated betting activity on the booking market. That surge in stakes activated alerts within monitoring systems, with the incident and related wagering patterns later reported to the appropriate national federation.
The second case was identified last month following reports from two bookmakers citing suspicious betting behaviour. Wagers were placed on a player receiving a first-half booking in a league match, where he was later cautioned after committing three fouls in fewer than five minutes.
When asked whether match-fixing concerns had been raised ahead of the tournament, FIFA responded: “FIFA has a zero-tolerance policy against match manipulation and provides a dedicated, highly secure and web-based whistleblowing system so that individuals can report any form or knowledge of potential match manipulation or integrity-related misconduct.”
Recent months have witnessed a string of high-profile integrity investigations across global sport. The NBA was rocked in November when an FBI investigation led to 34 individuals facing charges in connection with alleged illegal gambling schemes, amongst them current players and coaches, including Chauncey Billups, Damon Jones, Terry Rozier and Jontay Porter.
Then, in mid-January, federal prosecutors brought charges against 26 men over an alleged plot to fix college basketball matches.
In a separate development, also in November, Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz faced accusations of accepting bribes to manipulate their pitching. All those implicated have firmly denied any wrongdoing.