Sweden ramps up match-fixing investigation as first indictments issued
Formal charges brought against four players as regulator issues clarification of new rules
Swedish authorities have levelled formal charges of alleged match-fixing against four current players as the regulator looks to increase enforcement efforts.
The unnamed players include a former member of Sweden’s Under-21 football team and two former members of the national futsal team. Allegations include taking cash payments to ensure bets placed on specific events in matches paid out.
In one case, an indicted player received SEK300,000 (£26,000) after deliberately committing a foul in a 2019 Allsvenksan match to earn a yellow card.
“Shortly after the game, the player was given a loan for a large sum of money from people who had placed a bet on him receiving a warning in that game,” Swedish prosecutor Staffan Edlund said in a statement.
Edlund is reportedly building a substantial case against the players, with evidence including bank transfers and online betting account registrations, as well as evidence of suspicious betting patterns – allegations which the players deny.
Reports in the Swedish press claim the entire GAIS football team from 2019 is being questioned over several alleged rigged matches last season, including a 5-1 loss to Dalkurd.
Earlier this week, the Swedish government appointed Chamber of Commerce director general Gunnar Larsson as a special investigator of both unlicensed gambling and match-fixing in Sweden.
The so-called ‘Larsson inquiry’ has broad powers to investigate current procedures and practices being used by authorities combatting match-fixing, including the Swedish Gambling Authority’s (SGA) match-fixing council.
In his new role, Larsson will also look at strengthening anti match-fixing efforts through increased collaboration between sporting authorities.
Elsewhere, the SGA has issued guidance to operators after several questions were raised about its anti-match-fixing standards unveiled earlier this year.
The regulator has explained its stance on so-called individual performance prohibitions and two-legged matches, as well as several other areas of interest for sports betting firms.
“All “traditional” sports are covered by the regulations as well as all equestrian sports, esports and chess,” the SGA wrote.
“However, events such as appointments and distributions of various prizes, quizzes, the outcome of elections and other political events.
“For events that are not covered by the regulations, betting is permitted unless it is subject to any other prohibition or restriction contained in the Gaming Act, the Gaming Ordinance or the licensing decision,” the SGA added.