Murray urges tough line on match-fixing

WORLD number one Andy Murray on Thursday called for the “most severe punishments” against match-fixers in the wake of an Australian corruption scandal involving one of the sport’s emerging stars.

Police in Australia said an 18year-old had been charged with match-fixing at a tournament in Victoria last October and would appear in court in March.

Australian media named him as 18-year-old sensation Oliver Anderson, the reigning Australian Open boys champion.

The claim, just days before the world’s leading players assemble in Melbourne for the first Grand Slam of the season on January 16, related to a firstround match at the second-tier Traralgon Challenger event.

Murray, playing in the Qatar Open in Doha, said he had read about the case and although he did not want to comment on the specifics, the issue of match-fixing in tennis had to be tackled.

“It’s disappointing for the game any time something like that comes out,” said Murray.

“However, if people are caught and charged, I see that as being a positive thing.

“If it’s going on and nothing is happening about it, that’s much worse for the future of the sport.

“If it’s happening, there should be the most severe punishments for whoever is involved.”

He was backed by rival Novak Djokovic, also in Doha, who said he was saddened by the news.

“Very disappointing to hear, especially considering the fact that he’s young and won the junior Grand Slam,” said Djokovic.

Fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal said the latest police case showed the fight against the scourge was working.

“You get tired about this kind of stuff but the most important thing is to fight against these kind of things,” he told reporters at the Brisbane International tournament.

“And he is young. That’s even the worst part.”

On the eve of the Australian Open last year, there were bombshell media allegations that match-fixing was rife in tennis and the authorities had done little to counter corruption.

It sparked an independent review aimed at shaking up tennis’s under-fire anti-corruption body – the Tennis Integrity Unit.

In the wake of the revelations, Australian tennis authorities boosted measures to fight corruption. Neil Paterson, assistant commissioner of Victoria Police, said targeting match-fixers and illegal betting was a key focus of authorities heading into the Australian Open. — AFP