177% up to 5BTC + 77 Free Spins!
New players only. Exclusive Welcome Bonus of 177% + 77 Free Spins
A terrible development in Spanish football has resulted in the arrest of 17 people, including managers and players from a third level RFEF side, as a result of a significant match-fixing scam. The arrests were conducted as part of a coordinated operation by LaLiga, Spain’s top sports league, Europol, and the national police of Spain.
Eleven people were held in Melilla and six in Granada as a result of the arrests, which took place in both cities. The General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) informed the police about many match-fixing signals they had received, which gave the investigation—which had begun in February—a boost.
The DGOJ’s concerns centered on several wagers made from Melilla on the outcomes of individual football games featuring a local team. The same Melilla-based squad was the subject of concerns raised by LaLiga as a result of its internal whistleblower procedure, as well as allegations of financial aid and subsidy abuse.
The president of the Melilla team was a part of a criminal organization, Spanish authorities discovered as the inquiry progressed. He was said to have helped organize match-fixing schemes and was linked to the scandal by players. Players allegedly turned to employing third parties to avoid having direct connections to the bets and matches.
The investigation also turned out grants the Melilla club had received, which were allegedly spent improperly. Over time, the amounts received as grants had been increasing, drawing even more attention to the team’s financial dealings.
Currently, the investigation’s attention is on seven football games that are thought to have been compromised by match-fixing. Although 17 people have so far been detained, the police are not excluding the prospect of making more arrests. At this point, it’s unclear how much money operators have lost as a result of the fraudulent actions.
Spain’s national police had before promised to look into any suspected betting fraud found by the DGOJ. However, it has not yet been determined if the recent arrests are connected to the previously disclosed inquiry.
The match-fixing scandal has rocked the Spanish football community and cast doubt on the fairness of the game. LaLiga, Europol, and other law enforcement organizations will unquestionably keep up their efforts to guarantee fair play and preserve the reputation of the beautiful game.