Its Called Football Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Author of The Fix - Declan Hill joins It's Called Football to discuss match-fixing across the world and the potential for it in North America and MLS. We also get into who might be in charge of TFC next season, look ahead to the Colorado game and further discuss the drama that is the USL sale. Cheers Ben http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/blog/post/299404 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VPjr Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Fantastic interview with Declan Hill gentlemen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrennanFan Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Ben Knight: the problem is, and here's my concern, you didnt prove it... Declan Hill: there are 2 journalists in this interview, and only one of them has risked his life to battle organized crime in soccer, and it certainly isn't you Ben ...lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSoccerFan Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 quote:Originally posted by BrennanFan Ben Knight: the problem is, and here's my concern, you didnt prove it... Declan Hill: there are 2 journalists in this interview, and only one of them has risked his life to battle organized crime in soccer, and it certainly isn't you Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SthMelbRed Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 quote:Originally posted by BrennanFan Ben Knight: the problem is, and here's my concern, you didnt prove it... Declan Hill: there are 2 journalists in this interview, and only one of them has risked his life to battle organized crime in soccer, and it certainly isn't you Ben ...lol Ben Knight fits a very loose definition of what a journalist is. Mr Hill was being quite charitable, I'd say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BringBackTheBlizzard Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Personally the Shakespeare line about "methinks [he] doth protest too much" was what came to mind when I listened to that part. What exactly is supposed to be new about Declan Hill's material? Anyone who has followed the game for a while knows match-fixing goes on to an extent. Names like Bruce Grobelaar, Paolo Rossi and the Merlion Cup scandal should have instantly come to mind if Ben Knight and Duane Rollins have been following soccer closely all of their lives. Given the vast number of pro soccer games that are played globally, it shouldn't come as a huge shock that a tiny fraction are of dubious integrity. I seriously doubt that there are any issues with the overwhelming majority of high profile games, however, because in the final analysis players and coaches want to win given they are involved in a results driven business and refs want to be highly graded. In recent years the advances in electronic technology has actually made it much easier to identify unusual betting patterns in the meaningless end of season games where fixing is most likely:- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1168278/Betting-scandal-Five-players-charged-wagers-League-Two-clash.html An investigation into a betting scandal that has led to five lower league footballers being charged has also uncovered evidence suggesting that more individuals could have been involved. The FA revealed that past and present Accrington Stanley players Jay Harris, David Mannix, Robert Williams and skipper Peter Cavanagh have been charged with betting on their team to lose when they faced Bury in a League Two home fixture on the final day of last season. Andrew Mangan, who was at Bury at the time, has also been charged for betting on his own team to win, something that is also against FA rules. ... Such were the levels of cash staked in the run-up to the game that betting was suspended after one bookmaker contacted the Gambling Commission - as instructed in these cases - to report the unusual activity. The FA have not brought matchfixing charges as such accusations are extremely difficult to prove, but the players could face lengthy suspensions and perhaps even life bans if they are found guilty. Under FA rules, players, managers or coaching staff are prohibited from betting on the result or progress of any match or competition in which they are participating or have any direct or indirect influence over. ... Beyond all that I'm not sure why "North America" would be in the thread title given Declan Hill had almost nothing to say on the subject of games being fixed within CONCACAF? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earlimus Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 This was the first time I´d heard Hill speak. What a crazy bastard!!! I can´t believe the balls on the guy. Congrates to a man to risk life and limb for his passion and the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VPjr Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 quote:Originally posted by BringBackTheBlizzard Beyond all that I'm not sure why "North America" would be in the thread title given Declan Hill had almost nothing to say on the subject of games being fixed within CONCACAF? they asked him a question about whether there is fixing happening in North America. He said that MLS is a league that would be somewhat ripe for fixing, especially because many players are paid quite poorly. Based on his "formula" for identifying leagues at risk, he might be right but somehow I doubt it. MLS likely has an inhouse security department that tries to monitor this sort of thing. Its the lower leagues in North America that are even more ripe for corruoption simply because the pay scale is even worse (increasing the lure of easy money) and those league are even quite anonymous. its easier to cheat when no one is watching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 quote:Originally posted by BrennanFan Ben Knight: the problem is, and here's my concern, you didnt prove it... Declan Hill: there are 2 journalists in this interview, and only one of them has risked his life to battle organized crime in soccer, and it certainly isn't you Ben ...lol I think that Declan Hill has no idea how dangerous it is being a children's entertainer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vancouversoccerman Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 quote:Originally posted by BringBackTheBlizzard Personally the Shakespeare line about "methinks [he] doth protest too much" was what came to mind when I listened to that part. What exactly is supposed to be new about Declan Hill's material? Anyone who has followed the game for a while knows match-fixing goes on to an extent. Names like Bruce Grobelaar, Paolo Rossi and the Merlion Cup scandal should have instantly come to mind if Ben Knight and Duane Rollins have been following soccer closely all of their lives. Given the vast number of pro soccer games that are played globally, it shouldn't come as a huge shock that a tiny fraction are of dubious integrity. I seriously doubt that there are any issues with the overwhelming majority of high profile games, however, because in the final analysis players and coaches want to win given they are involved in a results driven business and refs want to be highly graded. In recent years the advances in electronic technology has actually made it much easier to identify unusual betting patterns in the meaningless end of season games where fixing is most likely:- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1168278/Betting-scandal-Five-players-charged-wagers-League-Two-clash.html Beyond all that I'm not sure why "North America" would be in the thread title given Declan Hill had almost nothing to say on the subject of games being fixed within CONCACAF? I haven't heard the interview yet, but I've read the book and his evidence on match fixing is compelling. He has spoken with both convicted and accused matchfixers in Asia and Europe, and their methods of fixing matches through payments, compromises and threats are identical. His book shows that the Malaysian and Chinese leagues have been gutted by commonplace matchfixing, and he has evidence that leagues in Eastern Europe and other European countries are on the verge of being compromised. But his chief criticism is that no FIFA league (including MLS) has adopted a system that's even close to the security departments in the big four North American sports. NBA, NFL, NHL & MLB players are educated on the risks and real dangers of consorting with sports gamblers, and the penalties are virtually career-ending. As we've seen with the likes of Pete Rose, these leagues take gambling and even the hint of matchfixing far more seriously than even steroids. That's because they realize the biggest threat to a league is losing the credibility of their results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ed Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 ^ Say it ain't so Joe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 quote:Originally posted by VPjr they asked him a question about whether there is fixing happening in North America. He said that MLS is a league that would be somewhat ripe for fixing, especially because many players are paid quite poorly. Based on his "formula" for identifying leagues at risk, he might be right but somehow I doubt it. MLS likely has an inhouse security department that tries to monitor this sort of thing. Its the lower leagues in North America that are even more ripe for corruoption simply because the pay scale is even worse (increasing the lure of easy money) and those league are even quite anonymous. its easier to cheat when no one is watching. Like the CSL you mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piltdownman Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 Corruption in the lower leagues of NA? Whats the point? A bet over $20 is going to raise some eyebrows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piltdownman Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 quote:Originally posted by Vancouversoccerman As we've seen with the likes of Pete Rose, these leagues take gambling and even the hint of matchfixing far more seriously than even steroids. That's because they realize the biggest threat to a league is losing the credibility of their results. Poor Rose. The guy bet on his team to win and still got blacklisted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 quote:Originally posted by piltdownman Poor Rose. The guy bet on his team to win and still got blacklisted. There is no way that he only bet on his team to win. No way. He got kicked out of baseball for life for placing bets on his own team? Not a chance. He has not credibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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