BIG MONEY LURE IN MATCH-FIXING

Manipulation is difficult to trace, claims former national shuttler

IN light of the recent matchfixing allegations, a former national shuttler revealed that players make so much money from manipulating matches that it made sense for them to lose in early rounds.

The former national No 1 knew of a player who made S$100,000 (RM300,000) in 2006-07.

“This is not new at all. Perhaps, what’s new is that with technology, it has become harder to trace or detect match-fixing deals among bookies or players.

“What we are witnessing or hearing now is just the tip of the iceberg.

“I was shocked when I first came across something like this more than 10 years ago.

“I was at a tournament in Europe and I had made it to the quarter-finals. We would usually have breakfast at the hotel cafe, and right there at the corner was a desktop.

“I switched it on to check the draw, and to my surprise it opened to a betting site, which was legal. What shocked me was that my name was on it too.

“The betting process was simple, you basically click on who you think would win.

“Of course, I cannot bet on myself, but I know of players who would get their friends to bet on them to lose, and that’s where the big money comes in.

“I knew a player who made RM300,000 in a tournament which only offered US$6,000 (RM23,000) in prize money.

“Now, if it traces back to a legal betting site, like many of you see in almost every major sports, how are you going to fight match manipulation, be it with bookies or players?

“I have been following the match-fixing scandal involving two Malaysian independent players, and I believe that the Badminton World Federation (BWF) would have acted on a tip-off.

“I doubt BWF have been monitoring the two players and their lifestyle because there are so many shuttlers on the circuit.

“We are all just waiting to know the outcome of the hearing in Singapore at the end of the month,” said the player, a former World No 1.

The two players — who risk a lifelong ban if found guilty — are expected to attend a hearing in Singapore on Feb 26-27.