S. Korea declares state of emergency on match-fixing

SEOUL: South Korea has declared a “state of emergency” against match-fixing allegations tarnishing a number of domestic sports leagues and has issued a package of measures aimed at tackling sports-related corruption.

The allegations that led the investigation of dozens of players and officials in the domestic soccer league last year have since spread to South Korea’s professional baseball and volleyball competitions.

“We believe the recent turn of events has created a state of emergency that threatens to shake the foundation of sports,” Yonhap news agency quoted South Korea’s sports minister Choe Kwang-shik as saying yesterday.

“We didn’t just want stop-gap measures, but we wanted to take comprehensive steps for fair and transparent playing environments.

“Match fixing isn’t just a problem for some sports; it is clearly a criminal act that turns the whole world of sports into an act of fraud against the people.

“To root this out, it’s important for the government, relevant agencies, players and coaches to have the will and determination to act.”

Authorities would take a “no mercy” approach to players involved in match-fixing, but professional clubs would also be held accountable for protecting players from exposure to rigging or other corrupt practices,” Choe said.