Slap on the wrist penalties against teams who cheated

[famososMuertos]

OP;I believe that the sanctions or bans imposed on executives; or even, by extension, on the teams themselves; are woefully inadequate; in fact, they pale in comparison to the penalties handed down to players. We have seen harsh sanctions imposed on many athletes across various sports (some even receiving lifetime bans) yet, as I said, penalties for executives are generally only temporary... we are even seeing this right now in one of the world's major leagues (PL).

[Alphakilo]

Has something like this happened in your country's league?
When match fixing allegations were confirmed was there a serious punishment? A slap on the wrist? Nothing?

I think this might be the first time I have seen something like this.

But won't this leniency lead to or encourage more teams to be involved in it? This is match fixing we are talking about here, there was evidence, and yet they gave such a relaxed punishment to those involved? This kinda makes me wonder if those giving out the punishment are also involved in it, because there is no logical reason as to why they would take such action against a crime like that.

Perhaps the influence of the owner of the club has got much to do with the kind of point deduction that was given which was in no way a strict punishment for match fixing as we have seen happened to other teams in the past.
Marseille, sometime in 1993 was stripped of their French league title, got a ban from defending the EU title and faced compulsory relegation to league 2, when they were found guilty of bribing opponent players before a UEFA champions League final. That's the kind of punishment that is supposed to be given here and not just 2 points deduction which seems like a pat on the back for being bad.

Such kind of lenient punishment is a show of lack of accountability and may become a reference for another team if they go ahead with this and will be bad for bettors and for bookmakers who would in the future remove or delist these corrupt teams and leagues from their sportsbook.

[coin-investor]

Has something like this happened in your country's league?
When match fixing allegations were confirmed was there a serious punishment? A slap on the wrist? Nothing?

A slap on the wrist without sanction is like encouraging them to do it again. They should be strict and impose a sanction because the trust and the money of the people are at stake here.
Who would put a bet on a team that was found guilty of game fixing and people will always doubt the outcome, the sports regulator in your country is not doing their job properly, so they should be fired.

[DPHOR]

I haven't heard about match fixing in my country as I believe because when such happens it would be announced or even make know to the general public against involving themselves into match fixing. Although, I can't take records if this has actually happened before or not. But to me, when a team or club is caught red handedly involving themselves into match fixing they should be given heavy penalties so that others would definitely learn their lesson, as they wouldn't in any means get themselves involved in such a dirty game or tricks.

[Crypto Library]

To properly understand the context of this topic, I think we should mention the teams involved in the events mentioned by @OP. So, the 2 teams involved in this match-fixing are Volos & Panserraikos, happened in 2 matches.
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Just a note for you guys, since both teams have been proven to be involved in match-fixing, I think it would be wise to blacklist them from your betting plan.

I also think that since the OP complained about a serious issue, he should have given more specific information. I myself actually failed after trying for a long time to see which teams get only two points deduction as punishment for match fixing.

And for the two matches you mentioned Volos & Panserraikos, my explore on the punishment also says something different because I can see that Volos was given 3 points deduction and fine and Panserraikos was given 4 deductions and one of its players was given a financial fine.
@alani123 you should update the OP with the teams name.

Has something like this happened in your country's league?

Yes, in my country, although sports are different, there was also some serious allegation of match fixing in a cricket league, even multiple times.
However, even in this country, corruption is rampant, but we have seen severe punishments in this case, such as the owner of Dhaka Gladiators in BPL was banned from cricket-related activities for 10 years for match fixing and cricketer Mohammad Ashraful was banned from all forms of cricket for eight years and fined around $10k, And it is said that the career of a great player like Ashraful ends because of that penalty.

[EluguHcman]

A couple of seasons ago a Swedish footballer in Greece accused the team of a rich mogul that they were fixing matches, even citing specific examples about the play out games on the country's top league.

My question is that... Of what interest did the player have to expose the team? I am also sure that before he took that bold step, he had seen a lot that he can not help it as much fixing matches won't encourage players show their talents and enemies because if the team and the management has agreed on one condition, definitely that should be their aim as a team.

What did the football club do to him as a reward after putting the club in such tight corner? I hope to hear about it.
Well, It is a failure and disappointing for the club of such great height to show such misconduct and I am sure that after being exposed their fans will feel very bad about it.

[DiMarxist]

On a serious note, two points deductions on match fixing accusations and after even investigations has proven that the aligations were right. The highest penalities were two points deductions which means in reality that there is nothing wrong with all the malpractice that were done by the club or clubs involved. If this is true about the Greek league then it's an invitation for anachy because, if those who has been found guilty of match fixing are not given heavy penalities others can see it as an avenue to commit such crime.

[Joeboy]

A two-point deduction, that's not a punishment in any way. I wouldn't be surprised if the same team or another team tried their own match-fixing to get a minor punishment if caught because this will be a reported act.

Under football law, match-fixing is a punishable offense that shouldn't be treated lightly because whatever judgment that is being passed will neither curb match-fixing nor increase the rate at which it exists. Local leagues shouldn't be an exception to be given a strict verdict for teams when they are found guilty of any misconduct of any type.

Some country's footballing league have already implemented Jail terms as well as a heavy fines for those perpetrators involved in match fixing...That is highly commendable infact that is just how I think it should be in all football league... Two points deduction is nothing compared to what the team or individual involved could potentially gain either monetarily or otherwise from manipulating that match...Infact if the punishment is only a deduction, then it would never even discourage those that are so bent on compromising the integrity of the game for their own financial benefits..The punishment has to be very severe enough to make those considering to commit the act to think twice before acting...

[Joy- maker]

Has something like this happened in your country's league?
When match fixing allegations were confirmed was there a serious punishment? A slap on the wrist? Nothing?

Something of this kind hasn't happened in my country's football league,  because it is very difficult to prove that a match was deliberately fixed unless there is a strong evidence to support the allegation.  I can remember when there was an accusation and suspicious surrounding some matches,  but none of them was confirmed fixed and no club received a serious punishment for it.

In some of the popular leagues, I have seen fans saying that some particular matches were fixed,  but none was confirmed to be fixed,  like this one. Imo,  removing only 2 point from the teams involved in this present season does not make much sense to me,  they were supposed to serve a more serious punishment that would reflect the seriousness of the offense committed.

[Darker45]

Something similar also happened in a local league here in my country. No less than the Department of Justice found legal proof and probable cause. That's a heavy confirmation. However, as serious as the confirmation may seem, I don't think the punishment was as serious.

Despite the millions involved and the reputational damage the scandal has caused, the punishment was limited to lifetime bans on those involved, which was only league-wide, as well as the termination of the franchises.

They're not as light as the one in your story, though.

[len01]

A two point deduction is not enough to ensure fairness in sports. Sometimes, match fixing or other forms of cheating that ultimately receive only light punishments can raise concerns that some parties may have been bribed. I am not saying this happens in every case, but this kind of cheating seems to occur quite often in some smaller leagues, while the punishments are usually very lenient.

Perhaps this is one of the reasons why many serious bettors are not interested in betting on smaller leagues.

[cryptomaniac_xxx]

Has something like this happened in your country's league?
When match fixing allegations were confirmed was there a serious punishment? A slap on the wrist? Nothing?

Yes, and usually the league doesn't want to suspend or give harsh penalties to the team or the players because it's going to affect their league. Specially if the local league is somewhat well known already.

So they don't want their fans not watching the game because they have suspended anyone. It could back fire on them though as they should uphold everything and really put someone as a scapegoat and punished but it's rarely done by our country's league.

[Tetu100]

This is how far money can rule and controls people's mind from doing the right thing. Because I don't find that punishment  appropriate for such level of crime. However, i haven't heard of such thing happening in my country or maybe I haven't pay close attention to notice it. But I'm sure if something like this eventually happen in my country, it wouldn't be taken lightly.

Furthermore, things like this are the main reason why some league aren't doing well. Hence, people barely patronize it or has nothing serious to do with them due to they're not sincere or lack transparency in their dealings

[Africolo]

A couple of seasons ago a Swedish footballer in Greece accused the team of a rich mogul that they were fixing matches, even citing specific examples about the play out games on the country's top league.

The issue took two years for the league's ethics committee to deliver a verdict and the verdict was just... A deduction of two points for the current season which has already started.
 
Which is so crazy to me. How can a team be proven to fix a match and get away with anything other than severe sanctions? That owner should be barred from owning a team in the top league for at least a handful of years in my opinion. But when football becomes all about the money match fixing can be the norm I guess.

Some Greek teams might be actually good in terms of international play after having millions pumped to enrich their roster recently but that doesn't mean that the local league's should be considered fair. I sure as hell wouldn't trust my own country's league with much in betting money if they aren't caring enough to squash match fixing.

Has something like this happened in your country's league?
When match fixing allegations were confirmed was there a serious punishment? A slap on the wrist? Nothing?

I think the punishment was a very minor one compared to the consequences of what they did by fixing matches, though the system of football today is just all about making money so once money is involved even the verdict that would have been severe will be given lightly and the 2 points deductions wasn't fair enough as the punishment for a crime that was committed, like you rightly said I was thinking that such team and the culprits be banned for a time being from competiting in the league for about 3 years that would have being a fair verdict for the crime.

Some countries have implemented jail terms for such act and that's fine because if a very severe consequences is not attached to it many teams will be involved in match fixing and if just two points are deducted other teams will do theirs and say after all it's just few points that will be deducted that's why a severe verdict would have been given.

[Ishicryptic]

Two points deducted for a serious crime as match fixing is very poor and I wonder why their league organizers would descend so low to the point of not doing the right thing to show that match fixing is intolerable. I'm sure that match fixing would continue in that league and offenders would say that afterall they'll be deducted a few points, if such a trend continues it will kill the reputation of the Greek top league. Although I don't know the findings of the investigation and why a severe punishment wasn't handed out, maybe the two points deducted wasn't because of the main allegation on the team, if it were then something is seriously wrong in their football federation.

[Julien_Olynpic]

One of the main problems with match-fixing is that it's difficult to prove. And virtually all sanctions hinge on the strength of the evidence. What kind of evidence is required for it to be considered credible? Perhaps it's a surprising coincidence of financial flows and game results. Plus, perhaps, there are recordings of conversations and video footage of violations. But most of these accusations can be refuted.
In my opinion, the main thing is to create conditions where match-fixing is unprofitable, and winning matches naturally is advantageous.

[danherbias07]

Yes, it did happen many times in our country, although not completely proven. It's the news that is getting buried after the hype, and I think those who are connected to it are the ones who are trying to bury it. The rich, the elites. In a corrupt country, this is the norm. It's the rich who actually control the government and even the biggest sports leagues in the country.

If that happens, I mean penalties being too light. It's not that surprising anymore because somehow we already know that is going to happen with all the rich names connected to it. When it comes to gambling, if you want to win, just go with the flow or don't bet at all.

[DanWalker]

since both teams have been proven to be involved in match-fixing, I think it would be wise to blacklist them from your betting plan.

Your point about blacklist is practical but a distinction need to be made here. Permanently blacklisting any team is not same thing as exercising extra caution for that specific competition or fixture. Another important correction is that if we are discussing current case itself, it would not be right to base argument on 2-point deduction. I could see, Volos has been deducted 3 point and Panserraikos 4 point. And both club have announced their intention to appeal. Therefore rather than immediately dismissing entire matter as case of permanent corruption, it is more rational to wait and see what decision on punishment is, outcome of any appeal and how the situation unfolds in future.

Personally before betting on such league, I would consider not just the teams but integrity of entire competition. Just because manipulation has been proven in one match we cannot draw same conclusion regarding all future match. At the same time, there is no room to treat confirmed manipulation lightly.

[mak013]

A couple of seasons ago a Swedish footballer in Greece accused the team of a rich mogul that they were fixing matches, even citing specific examples about the play out games on the country's top league.

The issue took two years for the league's ethics committee to deliver a verdict and the verdict was just... A deduction of two points for the current season which has already started.
 
Which is so crazy to me. How can a team be proven to fix a match and get away with anything other than severe sanctions? That owner should be barred from owning a team in the top league for at least a handful of years in my opinion. But when football becomes all about the money match fixing can be the norm I guess.

Some Greek teams might be actually good in terms of international play after having millions pumped to enrich their roster recently but that doesn't mean that the local league's should be considered fair. I sure as hell wouldn't trust my own country's league with much in betting money if they aren't caring enough to squash match fixing.

Has something like this happened in your country's league?
When match fixing allegations were confirmed was there a serious punishment? A slap on the wrist? Nothing?

In my country, I've seen cups won by teams backed or sponsored by the "right" politicians. I know teams that are "convenient" for other teams - they can easily throw a game if needed. And this is in the top division of the country!
Honestly, I think there are fixed matches in every league. The only difference is how often we hear about them. We know about the Serie A corruption scandal, the Man City cheating case, and a few other cases. But I suspect many more fixed games are hidden from us. And I'm not sure we'll ever find out. There's nothing we can do about it.

P.S. I stopped supporting the team that "sold" the cup.

[Orpichukwu]

Issues related to match fixing is what make most the gamblers not to always admit for playing small leagues is because of the issues related to match fixing, but I still don't want to believe all this because some of those allegations does not even have claims to prove the truly happen in real life, it is better we just gamble for fun and erase our mind of all these.

It’s no longer a matter of small leagues being the ones affected by match rigging; any league or club can pull that up if their head is corrupt, and these Greek team allegations don’t appear to be baseless without proof, if there was no proof there no time, they will slam the team with two-point deductions as penalties. It's funny how they can treat such a serious matter with little punishment. This will push people away from trusting some Greek clubs.