FOOTBALL BETTING MATCH FIXERS JAILED

Following a lengthy investigation into what officials have described as the biggest football match-fixing scandal to have hit Europe. The sentences handed out in Bochum, Germany are only the tip of the iceberg, as it’s estimated that there are another 300 or so suspects being investigated. 

All three defendants were presented with sentences of between three and four years. They pleaded guilty to betting on soccer matches they knew had been fixed, and to bribing players involved in certain games. Two of the three men were bookmakers while the third man, known as ‘Tuna A’, was identified as a gambler. Both of the bookmakers had developed relationships with football players over a period of time. These relationships were clearly “manipulative”, as pointed out by Judge Carsten Schwadrat. The men were charged with fixing at least eighteen soccer matches, up to as high as level as Europa League standard.

The three men had apparently been involved in the sordid world of fixing outcomes of football matches for several years. Sentences will also shortly be handed out to another seven defendants, including Ante Sapina, the mastermind behind a German match-fixing ring who was sentenced to three years imprisonment in 2005. Sapina only served one third of that sentence and told the court that after his release he wagered sums of money on games that had been manipulated, shortly after the 2006 World Cup.

Plying a trade as a football tipster is difficult enough without competing against the filthy obstacle that is match-fixing. The fact that the punishment being meted out is as severe as three or fours years imprisonment will surely thwart future offenders and eliminate this blight from the beautiful game. In the meantime perhaps I (with tongue firmly placed in cheek) can deny responsibility for any incorrect soccer tips I’ve provided in the past year, and claim that these blemishes on my record as a tipster have been the result of a vile European match-fixing ring.

Valencia 1-1 Barcelona: Messi penalty denies Los Che

Valencia held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in La Liga as its energetic, yet resolute display made for a frustrating night at the Estadio Mestalla for the Catalans.

Ernesto Valverde had set out to refuse the Blaugrana their usual time on the ball, and it was a tactic that looked to have worked superbly as Ever Banega put the hosts ahead. Lionel Messi equalized from the spot soon after though, scoring in a record 12th consecutive La Liga fixture.

Both teams opened the game with a lot of energy, but Barca looked more threatening as it was largely in control of possession. The visitors were unable to fashion any chances to test Vicente Guaita as Los Che defended in numbers and pressed quickly. 

Valencia complemented its enthusiastic defense by playing on the break when it managed to wrest the ball away from Barcelona, with Roberto Soldado keen to make an impact. Midway through the first half the striker's bright run came to an end on the edge of the box due to a trip from Javier Mascherano. Tino Costa struck the free kick, but he failed to get it past the wall, and his team's appeals for a handball on Xavi were ignored.

Los Che's resilience at the back continued to frustrate the Blaugrana, and Valverde's men were rewarded in the 33rd minute. Soldado's cross was headed away by Gerard Pique, but only as far as Banega, who brought the ball down and rifled a low shot past Victor Valdes at his near post.

Barca were handed a route back into the game as Joao Pereira clumsily cut down Pedro in the box in the 39th minute. Messi stepped up to take the penalty and fired an unstoppable effort into the top left-hand corner for his 34th league goal of the season.

The teams went into the break level, but with just five minutes gone in the second half Valencia nearly regained the lead. Andres Guardado's cross was met by Soldado, but he could not guide his header inside of Valdes' post.

The game continued to go from end-to-end, and five minutes later Cesc Fabregas had a chance to put the Catalan side ahead after Messi's defense-splitting throughball, though his shot only rippled the side netting.

Valencia nearly struck after Sergio Canales replaced Banega in the 64th minute, as it did not take long for the former Real Madrid man to make his presence known. From Guardado's cutback, a fantastic, arrowed shot towards looked to be heading for the top corner until Valdes' fingertips turned it wide of the post.

The keeper was once again in fine form in the 89th minute, as a brilliant double save, the second of which came from a Soldado follow-up effort, stopped the hosts from stealing all three points at the death and ruining David Villa's return to his former home ground.

Inter set to sign Schelotto, Kuzmanovic

La Gazzetta dello Sport has suggested that Inter are on the verge of signing Atalanta winger Ezequiel Schelotto and Stuttgart midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic.

After president Massimo Moratti confirmed that they would not be signing Corinthians star Paulinho in January, the club officials stepped up their efforts to conclude two transfer deals.

Inter have finally reached an agreement with Atalanta over the purchase of Ezequiel Schelotto, with Orobici due €3.8 million plus co-ownership of Inter striker Marko Livaja.

On the other hand, Stuttgart midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic is also set to arrive at Giuseppe Meazza, with the cost of the transfer mere €2 million.

The Serbian midfielder had less than six months left on his deal in Germany and was keen to return to Italian Serie A.

Schelotto and Kuzmanovic are expected to increase competition for places in the centre of the park, although La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Inter could make another high-profile signing by the time the transfer window closes on Thursday.