How clean are the big leagues really?

[KTChampions]

This corruption isn’t only about big leagues or perhaps the bigger teams but this issue sometimes gets to what most football fans now refers to as home advantage. There are some scenarios where a host club or country gets more favour from officials in charge of the game, in some major tournaments there have been some notable controversial decisions where you start questioning the officials. But then sports especially football now also have it’s business side of it and you never can rule out the possibility of some bias decisions or outcomes in most games.

  You clearly don't know anything about the 90s of the last century. In those days (I'll leave it to those who saw them to tell you about the earlier ones, since I didn't) an away game where you were judged unfairly was like a gift, because the alternative was to "kill" your team with a couple of penalties and expulsions. Now the situation at this level has become much better (including because of the Internet and media where everything is recorded and disseminated instantly), but corruption at higher levels has only gotten worse.

[CryptSafe]

OP, thank you for those instances you have given. I have come to realise that no sector of the economy is void of corruption even in the sports industry too. There have been reported cases of fixed matches not limited to just football alone, other sports too also have their own fair share of the experience as well. The big players, the cartel for instance when Escobar scored an own goal unknowingly which caused their team to loose that game what happened to him days after. Was it not rumoured that the cartels who gamed the match killed him? So I can not say that big leagues are clean, they are even likely worse of them all because the cartel takes advantage of it because of the multitudes

[rachael9385]

We can not lie about it by denying the underlying truth that everything can never be clean under a big industry like football where big bucks of cash flows in from Investors. You can not tell me they do not have a stake to protect in some matches in a full season of the league.

It is how organised this big leagues are that what makes them mirrored as leagues that are without deliberately altered matches in the results. It may not be one too many but this fixing of matches do play there also.

We have no proof that this happens but you have a point, it has become very common for big industries especially football to just have some shady connections but because of their reputation this isn't something that can be exposed to the public that's why it's always going to remain hidden but like I said we have no proof of this.

[Orpichukwu]

We have no proof that this happens but you have a point, it has become very common for big industries especially football to just have some shady connections but because of their reputation this isn't something that can be exposed to the public that's why it's always going to remain hidden but like I said we have no proof of this.

There is no proof yet; if there was enough evidence to prove that the big league bet themselves involved in things like that, no matter their reputation, it can't be swept under the carpet forever. It will be shown to the public, which will make them lose credibility, and that's why any of them who are into any of those fixing shit will do it quietly and professionally so that there is no trace left.

[Wakate]

OP, thank you for those instances you have given. I have come to realise that no sector of the economy is void of corruption even in the sports industry too. There have been reported cases of fixed matches not limited to just football alone, other sports too also have their own fair share of the experience as well. The big players, the cartel for instance when Escobar scored an own goal unknowingly which caused their team to loose that game what happened to him days after. Was it not rumoured that the cartels who gamed the match killed him? So I can not say that big leagues are clean, they are even likely worse of them all because the cartel takes advantage of it because of the multitudes

Corruption is everywhere and many of the government officials are corrupted and we may not really know because their corruption cases have not been released. The heart of human is wicked and we should not be decieved about those claims that the politicians and the people at the top are less corrupt. Some of these people are wealthy but will not mind to make more illegal money to add up to what they have.

[Fivestar4everMVP]

That is why I also think maybe smaller markets are not always bad. Maybe games that do not attract too much public money are less interesting for big people to manipulate. I am not sure if that is the right way to think about it, but it kind of makes sense to me.

Am I overthinking this, or do you also think big leagues are not as clean as they want us to believe?

One fact is that no matter how big a league is, it doesn't and won't grow above manipulation, any league that can manipulated by those who are heading the affairs of that league if they so choose to, I know this because CAF did it the recently just ended African Cup of nations (AFCON), that tournament was heavily manipulated and to the extent that they couldn't even hide it any more judging from their actions and decisions.

But in the end, all of that doesn't surprise me because we all are humans, and humans are not perfect beings, greed is one of our major threats and the worst part is that who ever is greedy is greedy, no matter how much money he or she makes and no matter the level such a person attain in his or her career and life, he or she will still exhibit greed which is in his or her nature.
Which such persons becomes the chairman of a league, whether big or small league, rest assured there will be manipulations here and there that may or may not be ever known to the public.

This is why it's always better to gamble or bet for fun alone and don't expect anything or reward in return for betting, if you eventually win, then celebrate but don't always make winning a priority to avoid disappointments, for while we bet and hope for the best, let's also expect the worst.

[o48o]

We can not lie about it by denying the underlying truth that everything can never be clean under a big industry like football where big bucks of cash flows in from Investors. You can not tell me they do not have a stake to protect in some matches in a full season of the league.

It is how organised this big leagues are that what makes them mirrored as leagues that are without deliberately altered matches in the results. It may not be one too many but this fixing of matches do play there also.

I am not saying that's not happening in some cases, but when we talk about big leagues, we are already talking about huge cash cows (if management doesn't suck in finances). Endangering that cash cow is just bad business. So you would need significant retirement money incentive to be risk worthy to fix matches. And since these teams are already under surveillance and everyone is watching, you would need flawless execution for any fraud.

I get why people think it's happening more then it is. It's the same reason they think that casinos have rigged machines when they are losing. Some people just like to blame everyone but themselves for their losses.

[Fredomago]

OP, thank you for those instances you have given. I have come to realise that no sector of the economy is void of corruption even in the sports industry too. There have been reported cases of fixed matches not limited to just football alone, other sports too also have their own fair share of the experience as well. The big players, the cartel for instance when Escobar scored an own goal unknowingly which caused their team to loose that game what happened to him days after. Was it not rumoured that the cartels who gamed the match killed him? So I can not say that big leagues are clean, they are even likely worse of them all because the cartel takes advantage of it because of the multitudes

Corruption is everywhere and many of the government officials are corrupted and we may not really know because their corruption cases have not been released. The heart of human is wicked and we should not be decieved about those claims that the politicians and the people at the top are less corrupt. Some of these people are wealthy but will not mind to make more illegal money to add up to what they have.

Indeed, there are corrupt officials even they already have lots of money they still involved with corruption, they are not satisfied with what they've got and they wanted to add more, and it's not by far that gambling activities are at they radar so even how big or small the league was if there's corruption that take place we may hear issues with manipulation or game fixing activities, as money dictates something that a person can't resist.

[AmoreJaz]

We can not lie about it by denying the underlying truth that everything can never be clean under a big industry like football where big bucks of cash flows in from Investors. You can not tell me they do not have a stake to protect in some matches in a full season of the league.

It is how organised this big leagues are that what makes them mirrored as leagues that are without deliberately altered matches in the results. It may not be one too many but this fixing of matches do play there also.

I am not saying that's not happening in some cases, but when we talk about big leagues, we are already talking about huge cash cows (if management doesn't suck in finances). Endangering that cash cow is just bad business. So you would need significant retirement money incentive to be risk worthy to fix matches. And since these teams are already under surveillance and everyone is watching, you would need flawless execution for any fraud.

I get why people think it's happening more then it is. It's the same reason they think that casinos have rigged machines when they are losing. Some people just like to blame everyone but themselves for their losses.

This is why hard to manipulate in big leagues because the stake is quite huge. If they will ruin the image, it will be like forever. So if in case they are doing such manipulation, I believe, it is very discreet and only the higher ups know about such. Because it is quite easy to spot in the arena if there is something wrong going on, especially if you are a huge fan of the sports. For sure, you know the moves of the athletes and even memorize how they will perform inside the arena. This is why when you talk about big leagues, you will seldom hear a rumor of rigging because it is quite risky.

[Insanity]

We can not lie about it by denying the underlying truth that everything can never be clean under a big industry like football where big bucks of cash flows in from Investors. You can not tell me they do not have a stake to protect in some matches in a full season of the league.

It is how organised this big leagues are that what makes them mirrored as leagues that are without deliberately altered matches in the results. It may not be one too many but this fixing of matches do play there also.

I am not saying that's not happening in some cases, but when we talk about big leagues, we are already talking about huge cash cows (if management doesn't suck in finances). Endangering that cash cow is just bad business. So you would need significant retirement money incentive to be risk worthy to fix matches. And since these teams are already under surveillance and everyone is watching, you would need flawless execution for any fraud.

I get why people think it's happening more then it is. It's the same reason they think that casinos have rigged machines when they are losing. Some people just like to blame everyone but themselves for their losses.

This is why hard to manipulate in big leagues because the stake is quite huge. If they will ruin the image, it will be like forever. So if in case they are doing such manipulation, I believe, it is very discreet and only the higher ups know about such. Because it is quite easy to spot in the arena if there is something wrong going on, especially if you are a huge fan of the sports. For sure, you know the moves of the athletes and even memorize how they will perform inside the arena. This is why when you talk about big leagues, you will seldom hear a rumor of rigging because it is quite risky.

I believe the primary reason for why it is more difficult to manipulate in big leagues is because of just too much at stake. Clubs, sponsors, broadcasters, and league organizers spend significant resources, and rely on the public's trust. Individual incidents of match-fixing can occur anywhere, but when a sport is so transparent, with scrutiny from fans, media, analysts and regulators, it is extremely risky and challenging to perpetrate a large-scale match fix. A lot of allegations of rigging happen in the wake of an unanticipated outcome or a wager loss. Sports are unpredictable and the unexpected is a part of the sport and not necessarily an indication of manipulation.

[Betwrong]

Big league which majority in Europe usually they can earn a lot of money from Ads, sponsor and broadcast right and i think these league don't necessary anymore to accept the money from the bookies that's why i am sure they are very clean and no matches fixing available on those league ~

I agree, it's in the past that they accepted money from some bandit bookies and stuff. Maybe it happens locally in many places still, but not on the high level. As you rightly said, they earn a lot of money from ads and they don't want to risk to lose it all when it's revealed that they are fixing matches. But we'll always have people thinking that there's some conspiracy going. This will never change.

[Curious T]

I can speak for football. Big leagues in football mean the top teams of Europe, and as far as that is concerned, it is extremely difficult to do that. You can bet on a foul, because fouls are a certainty. You can only bet on a number of fouls, and they need to happen before the referee gives them. The same with yellow cards and red cards. So whoever is fixing the game won't fix something that is not guaranteed. You can't fix a game to win because it's not guaranteed to. Not to mention the number of eyes on the game and how risky it is. It's not worth it most times.

There can be subconscious bias from the officials, and they will make favourable calls for a particular team, but taking money to officiate a game in favour of one team is something that would be very difficult to happen in the big leagues of Europe. It's easier in smaller leagues and leagues outside of Europe. This is why the claim that Barcelona paid referees is laughable, and the fact that everybody believes it is funny. You can't pay one referee and expect it to favour all the referees in the league. There is so much scrutiny in modern football in the top leagues for it to be done so easily.

[Makus]

This is something that we cannot really be sure of, we cannot really tell for a fact if big leagues are really clean or not but one thing that's certain is that big leagues don't really engage in things that would affect their reputation. Bettors don't really have proof of match fixing but even though there is a possibility of that happening it's not really common in leagues that are prominent. Big leagues cannot manipulate the outcome of the matches that people are betting on, they are not supposed to even get involved in anything that has to do with betting.

[Zigabel]

When we consider manipulation of games, if you are yet to prove any, then nobody would want o regard your claim as true because it is not proven even when you think you are very sure it is or it was, your best bet would be you focusing on how to win your game and make profits, take advantage of the information you got and utilise it , but if you so wish, you can share with a community so they too can be beneficiaries of the information you were able  to gather. Always remember that the business of sports and gambling is geared towards profits at various levels and that would means there are limits to what you can control from the outside, even transparency is only transparent when it's proven to be, otherwise it may not be absolute but can still be very valid.

[letteredhub]

We have no proof that this happens but you have a point, it has become very common for big industries especially football to just have some shady connections but because of their reputation this isn't something that can be exposed to the public that's why it's always going to remain hidden but like I said we have no proof of this.

There is no proof yet; if there was enough evidence to prove that the big league bet themselves involved in things like that, no matter their reputation, it can't be swept under the carpet forever. It will be shown to the public, which will make them lose credibility, and that's why any of them who are into any of those fixing shit will do it quietly and professionally so that there is no trace left.

No prove can be given of what you don't have evidence to tender as backup to claims but we all that watches these games knows that shits do happen from the backroom but it's just that the elite leagues are good in covering their tracks and making every game looking professional to the core that nobody would be able to call it a fixed game. Those unfamiliar and unpopular "hinter" leagues doesn't know how well professional to do it as the elites that's why they always get busted seeming as though it's prevalent only with them.

[Inwestour]

This is something that we cannot really be sure of, we cannot really tell for a fact if big leagues are really clean or not but one thing that's certain is that big leagues don't really engage in things that would affect their reputation. Bettors don't really have proof of match fixing but even though there is a possibility of that happening it's not really common in leagues that are prominent. Big leagues cannot manipulate the outcome of the matches that people are betting on, they are not supposed to even get involved in anything that has to do with betting.

Yes of course, they should not interfere, but despite that, scandals still happen sometimes even in the top leagues. That is why I still want to believe that things are much cleaner in the major leagues than in the lower divisions, where the level of oversight may be much lower. It seems to me that to influence a match through some kind of arrangement, it might be enough to involve even a single player. For example, imagine that a goalkeeper or a defender from one of the teams is supposed to ensure that a penalty is awarded during the match. Committing a foul inside the penalty area can be done in a way that looks quite realistic.