Violence and Match-fixing

Match-fixing players commit to footballing treason for many different reasons. In the media, match-fixing players are (often) rightly villified but there are times when some simply do not have a choice.

According to FIFPro's 'Black Book of Eastern Europe' (2012), violence within football is rife:

These figures are staggering. If a player must withstand violent acts from fans, club management or by the coach, is it possible they are more prone to fixing a match? Firstly, they might view their job as miserable and need the extra money to put up with the violence. Secondly, they now have a chance to take revenge on their persecutors! Lastly, they might not have a choice. 

This stat suggests that over a third of players who fix matches have a case that they are not responsible for the fixing. They were forced to through physical violence and presumably threats to them or their family.

Violence and match-fixing go hand in hand not least because of the persons who are responsible. Criminal gangs such as the ultras in Eastern Europe are heavily involved in the running of their clubs. To show you how much influence they have, take the case of Milos Radisavljevic Kimi (hi mate if you're reading!)

Milos hit the headlines recently when he invaded a Champions League match between Partizan and Ludogorets and stripped the captain's armband of Marko Scepovic after a poor performance. Incredibly FK Partizan and Milos wrote it off as a friendly exchange. 

‘I have not taken off the ribbon aggressively. We are friends in the first place. I go to the pitch after every match for choreography reasons. I do not understand what the problem is, because my act was not aggressive. I have not taken off his ribbon, he actually gave it to me’, Radisavljevic says. 

Skepovic has now signed for Olympiacos.

What if Milos 'asked' you as a footballer to fix a match? It could be difficult to say no.