Footie stars blackmailed by mobsters

SCANDAL OF MATCH-FIXERS

MOBSTERS are using sex, drugs and violence to make footballers in top European leagues throw matches.

A watchdog for suspicious sport betting patterns has revealed the shocking extent of corruption in the beautiful game.

Swiss firm Sportradar says it faces an uphill battle against matchfixing across the world – and even club owners can be in on it.

A spokesman said: “People don’t realise how big the international market is.

“Fixers usually groom players and officials. They take time, do them favours and entertain them. Then they’ll call in the favours.

“And once you do something for them they say, ‘You’ve just fixed a match for me, now you’re my b***h’.

“Prostitutes or drugs can be used as leverage, while older players are sometimes used to influence and recruit younger ones.” Threats of violence are also used to persuade players to underperform. The spokesman added: “The Balkan, Italian and Asian mafia are involved. The owners of clubs can also be corrupt. They tell players, ‘Unfortunately you’re going to lose today’. Those players don’t ask questions if they value their kneecaps.” On Monday, Italian footballer Emanuele Calaiò, inset, was banned for two years and fined £18,000 for attempted matchfixing. The Parma forward had messaged opposing players asking them to go easy on him. Back in 2012 fellow Italian Marco Paoloni spiked his Cremonese teammates’ water bottles to ensure they lost – and he could pay off gambling debts. The Sportradar spokesman added: “Rich people can have gambling debts and can be sleeping with the wrong people. They can be vulnerable.”