Thai football rocked as 12 arrested for match-fixing

[webfact]

Thai football rocked as 12 arrested for match-fixing

By LERPONG AMSA-NGIAM 
THE NATION 

 

 

LONG-HELD SUSPICIONS CULMINATE IN SWEEPING POLICE ACTION

 

FIVE TOP players, two referees, four investors and one club executive have been accused of being involved in the match-fixing of recent Thai League games. The arrests mark the first serious crackdown on cheating in Thai football.

 

The 12 men were taken into police custody but have since been released on bail.

 

The arrest warrants cite the alleged bribing of professional athletes to fix results and of match officials to violate the rules. 

 

 

After an investigation lasting more than six months, authorities under the supervision of National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda, with the help of Sportradar, a Swiss sports data company, determined that the 12 were linked to match-fixing in four Thai League games on July 26 and September 10, 17 and 23.

 

Suspicions of irregular online betting arose when an unusual number of goals were scored at the late stages of those games. 

 

 

Four Thai Navy FC players - Suttipong Laoporn, Suwittaya Numsinlark, Seksan Chaothonglang and Narong Wongthongkham - plus Weera Kerdputcha from Nakhon Ratchasima Mazda FC were each allegedly paid as much as Bt200,000 to manipulate results.

 

“I had heard about match-fixing in Thai football for a long time, but there had never been a serious attempt to tackle it until now,” said Football Association of Thailand (FAT) president Somyot Pumpanmuang during a press conference at police headquarters yesterday.

 

“Match-fixing is like a bad disease or a cancer in our body that needs to be cured immediately.

 

“The officials confessed that match-fixing in Thai League really exists and it has since the old FAT administrations. It’s time that we eradicate this wrongdoing or otherwise we will see the fall of Thai football. I thank the Royal Thai Police for their work.”

 

 

Committed under coercion

 

Chakthip said the match-fixing had been done through a network comprising players, a football club executive and match officials, as well as local and international investors.

 

Among those arrested were Chedsak Boonchu, director of Sisaket FC, and Fifa referee Poomrin Khamruen.

 

The investors and investor representatives were: Wanlop Samarn, Kittipoom Papoo-nga, Setthapasit Komonwattana and Pakpoom Pannikoon.

 

Officials and referees could be sentenced up to 10 years in prison and fines of Bt300,000 to Bt600,000, while players and investors could face five years in prison and Bt600,000 fines, Chakthip said.

 

Somyot also said there would be a further crackdown if more names were linked to the manipulation of results. 

 

The Thai football chief said he had been informed by referees that senior authorities in past FAT administrations had influenced results for their own benefit, adding that referees had been coerced into manipulating results for the sake of their jobs.

 

 

“They would be banned from matches if they didn’t comply and sent for overseas training if they followed the demands,” Somyot said.

 

He said referees also had to obey instructions to make a living as their salaries might not be paid in full or on time. 

 

He also urged other players and officials with match-fixing information to call him and talk to police directly to provide evidence that could lead to more arrests.

 

He conceded that previous news about match-fixing involving Thai-Cambodian matches during the SEA Games was true, but added that Thais had not been involved. 

 

Chakthip said he hoped corruption would be eliminated in next season’s Thai League as a result of this crackdown.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30332202

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-22

[ezzra]

Honestly, giving the overall mentality of the locals to fudge things,

( the most one can say without running foul with the rules here)

i'm very surprise that such news have never broken out earlier, much

much earlier.....

[Samui Bodoh]

8 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Honestly, giving the overall mentality of the locals to fudge things,

( the most one can say without running foul with the rules here)

i'm very surprise that such news have never broken out earlier, much

much earlier.....

+1

 

I find myself having no surprise whatsoever... none.

 

[Muggi1968]

No surprise...

Everybody knows that Thailand is a hub of corruption and a nation  of "used car dealers"....
 

[AhFarangJa]

I would be gob smacked if it didn't happen !!!

[Godang]

Prachuap have thrown a couple.

 

 

[Dave67]

How about the Thai company Carabao and  Carabao cup draw that mysteriously went off the air during the live draw in Thailand. Excluding Liverpool the big 4 have managed to avoid playing each other in the quarterfinals.

Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth 

Arsenal v West Ham United 

Leicester City v Manchester City 

Bristol City v Manchester United 

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/10/26/carabao-cup-quarter-final-draw-live-updates/

 

Edited November 22, 2017 by Dave67

[kingkenny]

Look at the shambles that was the Caraboa cup draw in Thailand recently. This makes one think whether the balls up was just sheer incompetence or something else..

 

 

Edited November 22, 2017 by kingkenny
Dave and I seemed to have the same thoughts at the same time

[Dave67]

Just now, kingkenny said:

Look at the shambles that was the Caraboa cup draw in Thailand recently. This makes one think whether the balls up was just sheer incompetence or something else..

Something else for sure

[Deez]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“They would be banned from matches if they didn’t comply and sent for overseas training if they followed the demands,”

So the FAT authorities who broke the law get a free holiday and continue on in their position.  Only in Thailand

[car720]

At first glance I thought to myself that this is just another day in Thailand.  However, if we look a little deeper, larceny is at the heart of just about everyone these days.  The Thais are just not as good at getting away with it.  Too many turn on their own.

[madmitch]

The amounts involved show how little these guys must be paid. Risking your career and indeed freedom for 100-200,000 baht.

 

That's less that a day's wage for a reasonable EPL player!!!

[NextStationBangkok]

So, the amounts spent on beer and the tickets are total waste for everyone ?

 

[sammieuk1]

I don't believe a word of it and sure that all will be found to be innocent very soon regards Sepp Blatter . 

[mikebell]

Is there any area of Thai society free from corruption?  Until severe punishments are enforced nothing will change.

[miamiman123]

 NO surprise here...Thai boxing next???

[PAIBKK]

Who has paid them ???

[12DrinkMore]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

“I had heard about match-fixing in Thai football for a long time, but there had never been a serious attempt to tackle it until now,” said Football Association of Thailand (FAT) president Somyot Pumpanmuang during a press conference at police headquarters yesterday.

 

Sounds like an own goal with that admission.

 

Why is he still FAT president?

 

 

[DM07]

My core believes, that good Thai- buddhists would never part take in gambling, let alone fixing the matches, are shaken... 

[rkidlad]

Who cares? Look at that info-board. With the top cop's face on it. I'm impressed. This guy must be good. He's god like. 

 

These guys absolutely love themselves. And there's such an irony to them investigating 'corruption'. Nothing but a big circle jerk with crime being used as an excuse to do it. 

[DUS]

The only surprise (if any) is that only 12 have been arrested (so far).

 

I am going to league games every week and given the amount of incompetent refereeing and some dodgy performances of some of the players it was obvious that many, many officials were and still are playing foul of the rules ... ;-)

[Black arab]

What i find surprising is that they say they will do something about it.

[PerkinsCuthbert]

I am shocked - shocked! Round up the usual suspects.

[Airbagwill]

This is not an "only in Thailand" thing....... It is in fact good that as everywhere it is exposed.

However how the matter is dealt with may return to the old "only in Thailand" routines.

[TKDfella]

3 hours ago, car720 said:

At first glance I thought to myself that this is just another day in Thailand.  However, if we look a little deeper, larceny is at the heart of just about everyone these days.  The Thais are just not as good at getting away with it.  Too many turn on their own.

I'm sure you don't mean what it reads like. Perhaps you would like to rephrase?

[DLang]

Sounds like they're after a job in Fifa. 

[patrick kennedy]

 aFarangjJa, I would be gobsmacked if it went any further,lets face it we as farangs identify many many scams and corrupt doings here in Thailand,but where do most of them end?Nowhere, look at Red Bull Boss,look at mai hong son underage prostitution involving Police and other officials,nothing in the last 3,or 4months,WHY, it involves the higher end,one wont get prosecuted because he or she knows too much about the other,they all piss in the same pot,and they all bleed the country working class to the bone.Look at the Monk who fled the country first to Paris and then to USA.supposed to have been sent back under escort to Thailand,NOTHING for 3 months or so,A monk with a pregnant girlfriend  with his child,multy millions in a bank and in a private Jet  and the owner of several houses,Where is he now?supposed to be leading the Country in the Path of BUDDAH,Above all people, a MONK. The police get caught in something serious,they get moved to another district and when all gets quiet they are back.JUST ONE BIG JOKE.

[marko kok prong]

Any inactive post's available for those accused in this.

[lvr181]

Could this really be a beginning to changing a cultural value that seems to 'support' corruption (official or otherwise)?  

[lvr181]

13 minutes ago, marko kok prong said:

Any inactive post's available for those accused in this.

Lottery ticket re-sellers?