suspected case of football betting fraud in Italy

[bitbollo]

a player from Serie B (second series in order of importance in Italy) was sent off (from the bench!) during a play-off.
his team was also winning 3-0 but he argued aggressively with the linesman.
obviously there was an anomalous flow of bets which, combined with inappropriate conduct, led to this request for investigations.

full news here
https://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/2024/05/30/news/calcioscommesse_indagine_bellomo_puntate_anomale-423133979/
video here
https://bari.repubblica.it/sport/2024/05/30/video/lespulsione_di_bellomo_in_ternana-bari_per_cui_si_indaga_per_calcioscommesse-423134081/

And you, dear fellow bettors, what do you think? what is your opinion in this case?

[Davidvictorson]

If at the end of the investigation, it turns out to be a case of betting fraud, then the footballer deserves the punishment that would come to him. It should be strong enough to such that he would be an example to other footballers who think they can get away with betting fraud. He just threw his chances of playing in the top league the Serie A or other big leagues away. A disappointment to his friends and family.

[Charles-Tim]

I was thinking there would be no manipulations in the top leagues before until recently that I saw that some players can intentionally play in a way to have at least one yellow card but which were later traced to betting fraud. But this is another one again.

The investigation has not been concluded but the event is suspicious because according to the first link in the OP, that there was anomalous flow of bets on Bellomo's expulsion before the expulsion and that few hours after kick-off, a series of 50 euro coupons were played in a cheating shop.

But I do not understand what cheating shops are, all I know are betting shops which can be used to bet.

[Slow death]

honestly, it's hard to believe that a player from series B is capable of joining these schemes, given that in a league like Italy, playing in series B is not a bad deal, on the contrary, players from series B have a decent salary and have a chance of playing in series A, I could believe that players at lower levels than in series B were doing this type of scheme because in the lower series the salaries are very low which encourages this type of schemes, because the players want money, they come to play in the very lower series where it will be difficult for them to move up in levels to B and A, that's why if someone gives them bad ideas like betting that in the game in which he himself will play he will have a red card and during the game he commits a purposeful foul to get a red card, then he will easily join this scheme when he sees the high amount of money he will earn because it exceeds his salary

[Zaguru12]

honestly, it's hard to believe that a player from series B is capable of joining these schemes, given that in a league like Italy, playing in series B is not a bad deal, on the contrary, players from series B have a decent salary and have a chance of playing in series A, I could believe that players at lower levels than in series B were doing this type of scheme because in the lower series the salaries are very low which encourages this type of schemes, because the players want money, they come to play in the very lower series where it will be difficult for them to move up in levels to B and A, that's why if someone gives them bad ideas like betting that in the game in which he himself will play he will have a red card and during the game he commits a purposeful foul to get a red card, then he will easily join this scheme when he sees the high amount of money he will earn because it exceeds his salary

That was definitely in the past, right now the world football is filled with greedy players looking to earn extra money from betting either personal or a collaboration with the casino or platforms to go and either score a goal or the most common one getting booked. This was a case for lower leagues in the past but even top tier players have of recent joined the play too. Not so recent two Ex Seria A players Sandro Tonali and Zaniolo were in the news for the same reasons with Tonali later found guilty and currently facing ban which could be extended due to another separate gambling Related cases again. The EPL had Ivan Tooney of Brentford suspend for six months and also fined him, so you see this whole thing has spread beyond Lowe leagues now too, one thing I will say is a more stricter rules are out in place for offenders such that even those attempting to commit same offenses will think twice

[teamsherry]

He got caught then h3 must be punished, who knows how ming he has been getting away with that, I think it's cheating cause some players can even go as far as intentionally losing a match or playing in a way to favour their bets and I believe odds are administered based on difficulty of an event occurring but some players can rig that since they are in control of those events.

[Hatchy]

And you, dear fellow bettors, what do you think? what is your opinion in this case?

This is the second case, I'm heading now about this betting fraud. Like I said in one other post with similar case, I knew that was just going to be the beginning as other players would take this idea into play and continue using it as a means to cheat during matches. It's no longer a new thing and I already saw it coming. I wonder where this will all lead and if it's not stoped soon, we will no longer have honest player on the field, which will in turn making football betting unfair and a cheated or manipulated series for us sport betters.

He has to be punished also with the other player from the other report. If they don't do something about all these it will cause trouble in the nearest future. Though we know that most times a lot of things happens before the game begins that we might not be aware of. But they shouldn't bring this bad habit into the games.

[danherbias07]

Players should not be betting on the game. That's the rule and I think that's also part of their contract. If not, they should include it if they want to avoid players cheating in the game, shaving points, or whatever unnecessary things they do just to sell the game.
It's true that they are humans too which will have an urge to bet for themselves especially if they know how talented they are and they can win the game no matter what.
But still, they are already making money so I don't think they need to force themselves to gamble or take that high risk to jeopardize their jobs. I am against players betting for themselves or their opponents, something could go wrong by doing that.

[ralle14]

Recently, we saw a case about an NBA player getting banned due to prop betting so this one is not that far off from becoming a reality. From how I see it, there's a decent probability for the case to be true once they get more evidence because if you were in the shoes of someone playing for a professional team, you'd always do what's best for the team and an unnecessary red card makes the situation questionable.

But I do not understand what cheating shops are, all I know are betting shops which can be used to bet.

Maybe there's a typo in between and you're right it should be betting shops instead of cheating shops.

[BlackBoss_]

I was thinking there would be no manipulations in the top leagues before until recently that I saw that some players can intentionally play in a way to have at least one yellow card but which were later traced to betting fraud. But this is another one again.

Italian football is famous with manipulations and there are some big scandals in Italy from Totonero 1980 to Calciopoli 2006 and many smaller scandals. Italy can be a most famous nation with football scandals but I am not naive to think there is no similar scandals in other countries and leagues.

It can be individual player's illegal activities or at bigger scale like a club, some clubs cooperate with each other for their illegal activities in sports. At individual scale, it's hard to control what a player does.

Recently, we saw a case about an NBA player getting banned due to prop betting so this one is not that far off from becoming a reality. From how I see it, there's a decent probability for the case to be true once they get more evidence because if you were in the shoes of someone playing for a professional team, you'd always do what's best for the team and an unnecessary red card makes the situation questionable.

When they brought it to the light, I believe they already had already evidence, just want to find more by their announcement to expand their investigation further.

If they did not have any evidence, they will not announce it, knock the door of the club and player. When they do it, they actually knew many things and only want to make investigation expansion with more deeper proofs and connections with other players or clubs.

[Dailyscript]

Truly such act is rarely seen in football and what makes it more suspicious was that his team was winning 0:3 at the 77th minute. So i dont see any need for the extravagant exchange of words there. Obviously there is a need to run an investigation. Its either he has a beef on that referee or e did for some reason which he will make open in time. When i went through x to see others comment on this situation i found out it was a blind argument that wouldn't let to no consequences. Such a player cannot play in any serious league because he has ruined his reputation in the Serie B

[cryptoaddictchie]

A huge playing team can sometimes be manipulated for gamblung especially ita a top sport to bet on and we all knew how football impacted on gambling sites or if not black market betting.

With the info at hand, theres a possibility that it is manipulated but cant be proof barehand. Well some might speculate that obviously but it can be wrong also. Who knows its just that he didnt really like how the referees calls or someone has made him do it.

It will depend on players reputation or if he has previous caught black deals negotiation or proven to be a clean guy. But whoevers clean can be swayed if Huge pot of money was being offered.

[bitbollo]

I was thinking there would be no manipulations in the top leagues before until recently that I saw that some players can intentionally play in a way to have at least one yellow card but which were later traced to betting fraud. But this is another one again.

The investigation has not been concluded but the event is suspicious because according to the first link in the OP, that there was anomalous flow of bets on Bellomo's expulsion before the expulsion and that few hours after kick-off, a series of 50 euro coupons were played in a cheating shop.

But I do not understand what cheating shops are, all I know are betting shops which can be used to bet.

in Italy major League (serie A) it's historically known for several betting fraud.
just to have a quick look https://www.panorama.it/calcio/scommesse-tutte-inchieste-italia-storia
here you can find some... (only the biggest one that involved many players/individuals).
the "single" event similar this one of Bellomo isn't counted here...
If you add also the other frauds in minor league you will get shocked about the money involved/total frauds realized.

[Porfirii]

Players should not be betting on the game. That's the rule and I think that's also part of their contract. If not, they should include it if they want to avoid players cheating in the game, shaving points, or whatever unnecessary things they do just to sell the game.
-snip-

Even if they don't bet themselves they will definitely find a way to do it, with the help of relatives and/or friends. We talked about a similar case in the NBA a few weeks ago: even if they have everything they could desire and a great future ahead, some top players behave like that and risk everything. I don't know in Italy, but in Spain cheats like that are punished with jail.

[blckhawk]

If at the end of the investigation, it turns out to be a case of betting fraud, then the footballer deserves the punishment that would come to him. It should be strong enough to such that he would be an example to other footballers who think they can get away with betting fraud. He just threw his chances of playing in the top league the Serie A or other big leagues away. A disappointment to his friends and family.

I don't get the players that are involved in this kind of scandal, I mean, you're already getting paid so much money to play a game that you already love, is the greed really that much that what you currently have isn't enough that you want some more and the way that you do it is by involving yourself in betting when you know that getting caught doing this will likely lead you to getting some sanctions in the league that you're playing, it's a really weird thing that greed can make people do stupid things just because those stupid things can make you easy money. Hopefully, the investigation would lead to something and that it's not just a dead end or worse an allegation proven to be nothing at all.

[Kelward]

honestly, it's hard to believe that a player from series B is capable of joining these schemes, given that in a league like Italy, playing in series B is not a bad deal, on the contrary, players from series B have a decent salary and have a chance of playing in series A, I could believe that players at lower levels than in series B were doing this type of scheme because in the lower series the salaries are very low which encourages this type of schemes, because the players want money, they come to play in the very lower series where it will be difficult for them to move up in levels to B and A, that's why if someone gives them bad ideas like betting that in the game in which he himself will play he will have a red card and during the game he commits a purposeful foul to get a red card, then he will easily join this scheme when he sees the high amount of money he will earn because it exceeds his salary

There's absolutely no reason for a player in seria B that has plans of ranking up to seria A to be involved in football betting fraud, and like you said, B is not a bad deal. If found guilty, he'll definitely ruin his chances of playing in any top league anywhere, just because of a bet fraud that cannot boost his career in anyway. I've heard that players in lower leagues usually involves in malpractices because of low renumeration, but it's definitely foolishness for someone in a higher league. If he's found guilty and faces the punishment, I hope that it'll send a serious warning to other players that are into these fraudulent acts.

[Viscore]

Sorry mate I could not understand as the video is not in english. However, this case is not new, it's happening in any sport and that's why the speculation that a sport is rigged is still floating in the surface. I think if they can it well they can make easy money, with the number of sportsbook now with high limit, it would be easy for them to spread their bets and win it even if it would result to sacrificing a game or a player.

I'm not a football better anyway but in basketball, I know a lot of news that involves player cheating, or even refs, both local and international game, that's why I cocluded that it's happening in any sport.

[nelson4lov]

And you, dear fellow bettors, what do you think? what is your opinion in this case?

I have a friend that seems to think that anytime something absurd happens in a football match that influences the match  means that the match was indeed fixed or rigged. On the seria B case: The fact that cases of similar conducts are becoming more frequent, I'm inclined to think that it is indeed true but we won't know until the full investigation have been concluded. I don't like the fact that some players or teams are directly sabotaging football.

[wheelz1200]

That's exactly why I don't bet on the lower leagues for any sport.  It's easy to sway a player with a nice payday if he doesn't make a lot.  But it's insanely harder to sway someone making 100 million$.  No reason for them to cheat they already make enough money.

In terms of do I think this happened sure it's prevalent everywhere in lower leagues and college level.  The part they need is proof which is always the difficult part.

[CryptoHeadlineNews]

I just checked the article link provided above, and I must confess, it seems the story is not complete, because all I could see is that Bellomo who was on bench was expelled for protesting with the linesman while his team was already winning with 3-0, But the reason for the protest was not mention, as I'm sure there must always be a reason for every action or reaction a person makes. And secondly, I also saw he has already been charged by the  Federal Prosecutor's Office of the Football Association opened for suspected multiple bets fraud, of which the outcome of the bet is still not mention, because who knows if his prediction was that he will have a red card on the game? And the referee just ignorantly contributed to making his bet successful. Who knows..  But however, I hope to see what the outcome of the investigation will turn out to be.