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The Fix: Soccer and Organized Crime
In Asia, Europe, and World Cups, journalist Hill risked death to interview murderous mobsters and manipulative middlemen who lavish gifts, women, and envelopes of cash "shopping and coffee money" on players, referees, and staff. As Oxford academic, he found fixed games statistics show more red cards (barely), early goals, and "nap"s. He suggests "more women and professional referees, better pensions and education benefits for players, an integrity unit in each soccer association made up of ex-policemen", and more.
"Having heard all of this, you may choose to look the other way, but you can never again say that you did not know" - Wilberforce, 1789
"Having heard all of this, you may choose to look the other way, but you can never again say that you did not know" - Wilberforce, 1789
462 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
34 people are currently reading
1144 people want to read
About the author
Declan Hill
8 books7 followersDeclan Hill is a journalist, academic and consultant. He is one of the world’s foremost experts on match fixing and corruption in international sports. In 2008, Hill, as a Chevening Scholar, obtained his doctorate in Sociology at the University of Oxford.
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June 13, 2018
The were some isolated cases I've heard about, but Mr. Hill was so helpful and polite as to give you everything systemed and chewed-up, and there is only one reaction possible after reading this book: football is in a deep, deep shit.
Of course, fixing a match is a very complicated case to prove in a court - it's not enought to prove, that someone wanted to fix a match, not enough if someone tried to do it, even not enough if someone - a player or a few of them - agreed to fix a match. The prosecution have to prove, that they tried, agreed AND actually fixed a match. Then, and only then, something can happen.
Enter FIFA. The supposed guardians of football, the supposed highest power in a football world, the supposed interested party in a clean, fair and beautiful game. The only fact that is not supposed, that an organization as huge and influential as FIFA doesn't have a department of football security. Gosh, screw "a department" - they don't have a single person working on inner and outer threats.
I got hooked to an idea of reading this book after I've saw this interview with the author himself, and in that interview he said in no ambiguous or uncertain words: "There are fixed matches in a World Cup". Of course, there's not a lot of them. Of course, most of them are very, very hard to identify as a fix, of course I did not believe what he said. Then I read his book.
Now, I believe there are fixed matches in a World Cup.
As I've said before, it's very hard to identify those matches as a fix. But with lots and lots of information Declan Hill provides in this book, puting piece after piece of it together, as a puzzle... He argues his case so well, those pieces go together so well, the big picture is so utterly simple and yet realistic, that I don't have any doubts about any part of his story.
There are fixed matches in World Cup. And of course there will be match-fixing at the upcoming World Cup in Russia.
Fuck.
Of course, fixing a match is a very complicated case to prove in a court - it's not enought to prove, that someone wanted to fix a match, not enough if someone tried to do it, even not enough if someone - a player or a few of them - agreed to fix a match. The prosecution have to prove, that they tried, agreed AND actually fixed a match. Then, and only then, something can happen.
Enter FIFA. The supposed guardians of football, the supposed highest power in a football world, the supposed interested party in a clean, fair and beautiful game. The only fact that is not supposed, that an organization as huge and influential as FIFA doesn't have a department of football security. Gosh, screw "a department" - they don't have a single person working on inner and outer threats.
I got hooked to an idea of reading this book after I've saw this interview with the author himself, and in that interview he said in no ambiguous or uncertain words: "There are fixed matches in a World Cup". Of course, there's not a lot of them. Of course, most of them are very, very hard to identify as a fix, of course I did not believe what he said. Then I read his book.
Now, I believe there are fixed matches in a World Cup.
As I've said before, it's very hard to identify those matches as a fix. But with lots and lots of information Declan Hill provides in this book, puting piece after piece of it together, as a puzzle... He argues his case so well, those pieces go together so well, the big picture is so utterly simple and yet realistic, that I don't have any doubts about any part of his story.
There are fixed matches in World Cup. And of course there will be match-fixing at the upcoming World Cup in Russia.
Fuck.
February 13, 2013
Declan Hill obviously did lots of great investigative journalism on this, but the result is really just a sequence of anecdotes. In the hands of a better writer, I suspect this might have been compelling. As it was, I abandoned it halfway through.
March 21, 2013
Me: "Let's see. It's a Saturday, it's early, I'll do some reading and some laundry. Wanna feel productive today, because there's a hockey game and two soccer games I want to watch this evening. Better get started so I don't miss them!"
[reads The Fix]
Wife: "Honey, I thought you were going to watch sports this afternoon?"
Me: "Who cares?"
Slightly dramatized, but a nonetheless accurate portrayal of what your sporting life will become before and after reading The Fix by Declan Hill.
I've been a sports fan all my life; in middle school I used to stay up until 1 or 2 in the morning watching Stanley Cup finals games. I've watched every World Cup on television since 1994 (men's and women's), and try never to miss any of the Grand Slam tennis tournaments. I loved baseball for years, fell out of it like so many during the steroid era, and only recently had gotten back into it. I used to like football (although as more concussion news trickles out I find it less entertaining and more terrifying) and have spent many long evenings trying to explain Formula 1 to my fellow Americans. So, while I don't quite define my life by sports like many people do, it's safe to say I'm a fan.
Am I now? I'm not sure.
Declan Hill goes around the world to expose the gambling fixers at the heart of soccer. The rise of television (which means it's easier for foreigners to follow any league they want) and the rise of the internet (and internet gambling) has led to an explosion of gambling on sports, and in the process has led to an alleged explosion of games being rigged in order to satisfy Malaysian, Singaporean, and Chinese gamblers.
The evidence, if true, is damning. Members of the Ghanaian national team admit to receivingbribes coffee money during the 2006 World Cup to throw a match by two goals. Fixers admit to controlling matches in the German first division, predicting to the author what the score line will be at the opening whistle. And all of this is often being done with the tacit approval of the higher-ups in international soccer, who either (1) receive a cut of the profits to hush up, or (2) can't be bothered to deal with it.
After reading this book, I can't help but question every game I watch. When a goalie comes way out of the box and makes a boneheaded tackle, I think, "Did he do that on purpose?" When a striker gets in the clear and puts his shot wide by 15 yards I wonder "Was he trying not to score so that the line would stay consistent with what the gamblers want?" When a defender makes a lazy pass across the backline I say to myself, "He's following the orders from the runner. The fix is in.”
Now, I'd LIKE to think that most of these thoughts are hogwash, and that the league that I predominantly watch and follow (Major League Soccer) is beyond such corruption. But The Fix lingers there, in the back of your mind, like the tangy taste of bad milk.
And other sports are not immune to this corruption. Tennis has had some accusations made in the past (it would be easier to fix a tennis match I'd imagine; fewer people to bribe). The author points out the great corruption in Russia, and one can't help but imagine this trickling down into my beloved NHL. Professional basketball would be very easy to fix (referees can EASILY decide the outcome, perhaps even more easily than in soccer) and indeed the NBA had one referee convicted of similar crimes.
The book is not perfect. Many of his claims are backed by evidence that seems substantive but is by no means definitive. I wish he had focused more on gambling outside of Asia; is there evidence of this in South America or North America? And his writing style can be conversational but also slightly irritating. I grew whether tired of his namedropping of Oxford and Cambridge, and some of the parts where he narrates his experiences traveling throughout Asia are a little too...personal (I'm not sure I need to know that he got tricked into having sex with a prostitute, to give one example). However, these things don't really change the fundamental revelations from the book, and I have to give the author his due for dealing with some very shady characters in order to reveal the truth.
But it wasn't until I thought back to the Super Bowl that things really clicked for me. Rather famously, during the 2013 Super Bowl, shortly after the Baltimore Ravens returned a second half touchdown to take a commanding lead over their opponent (the heavy favorites), the stadium lights turned off for half an hour. This seemed to kill the Ravens' momentum, and in the second half the 49ers came roaring back and nearly won the game. At the time, it just seemed like a quirky turn of events in a memorable game.
But then I read The Fix.
One of the most popular strategies Asian gangs used to rig English soccer games was to turn off the floodlights in the middle of the game and stall the teams, hoping to influence the game in a way that would benefit them financially. This would generally happen just after halftime or when a team scored.
Exactly as happened in the Super Bowl, one of the biggest gambling events in the world.
As of this writing, the NFL still hasn't said what caused the outage, nor have electrical officials. Who knows, it was probably the crappy New Orleans power grid, or all the pyrotechnics from Beyonce's halftime show.
But then you think about The Fix.
Follow the gambling line; unfortunately, I bet the answer lies there.
[reads The Fix]
Wife: "Honey, I thought you were going to watch sports this afternoon?"
Me: "Who cares?"
Slightly dramatized, but a nonetheless accurate portrayal of what your sporting life will become before and after reading The Fix by Declan Hill.
I've been a sports fan all my life; in middle school I used to stay up until 1 or 2 in the morning watching Stanley Cup finals games. I've watched every World Cup on television since 1994 (men's and women's), and try never to miss any of the Grand Slam tennis tournaments. I loved baseball for years, fell out of it like so many during the steroid era, and only recently had gotten back into it. I used to like football (although as more concussion news trickles out I find it less entertaining and more terrifying) and have spent many long evenings trying to explain Formula 1 to my fellow Americans. So, while I don't quite define my life by sports like many people do, it's safe to say I'm a fan.
Am I now? I'm not sure.
Declan Hill goes around the world to expose the gambling fixers at the heart of soccer. The rise of television (which means it's easier for foreigners to follow any league they want) and the rise of the internet (and internet gambling) has led to an explosion of gambling on sports, and in the process has led to an alleged explosion of games being rigged in order to satisfy Malaysian, Singaporean, and Chinese gamblers.
The evidence, if true, is damning. Members of the Ghanaian national team admit to receiving
After reading this book, I can't help but question every game I watch. When a goalie comes way out of the box and makes a boneheaded tackle, I think, "Did he do that on purpose?" When a striker gets in the clear and puts his shot wide by 15 yards I wonder "Was he trying not to score so that the line would stay consistent with what the gamblers want?" When a defender makes a lazy pass across the backline I say to myself, "He's following the orders from the runner. The fix is in.”
Now, I'd LIKE to think that most of these thoughts are hogwash, and that the league that I predominantly watch and follow (Major League Soccer) is beyond such corruption. But The Fix lingers there, in the back of your mind, like the tangy taste of bad milk.
And other sports are not immune to this corruption. Tennis has had some accusations made in the past (it would be easier to fix a tennis match I'd imagine; fewer people to bribe). The author points out the great corruption in Russia, and one can't help but imagine this trickling down into my beloved NHL. Professional basketball would be very easy to fix (referees can EASILY decide the outcome, perhaps even more easily than in soccer) and indeed the NBA had one referee convicted of similar crimes.
The book is not perfect. Many of his claims are backed by evidence that seems substantive but is by no means definitive. I wish he had focused more on gambling outside of Asia; is there evidence of this in South America or North America? And his writing style can be conversational but also slightly irritating. I grew whether tired of his namedropping of Oxford and Cambridge, and some of the parts where he narrates his experiences traveling throughout Asia are a little too...personal (I'm not sure I need to know that he got tricked into having sex with a prostitute, to give one example). However, these things don't really change the fundamental revelations from the book, and I have to give the author his due for dealing with some very shady characters in order to reveal the truth.
But it wasn't until I thought back to the Super Bowl that things really clicked for me. Rather famously, during the 2013 Super Bowl, shortly after the Baltimore Ravens returned a second half touchdown to take a commanding lead over their opponent (the heavy favorites), the stadium lights turned off for half an hour. This seemed to kill the Ravens' momentum, and in the second half the 49ers came roaring back and nearly won the game. At the time, it just seemed like a quirky turn of events in a memorable game.
But then I read The Fix.
One of the most popular strategies Asian gangs used to rig English soccer games was to turn off the floodlights in the middle of the game and stall the teams, hoping to influence the game in a way that would benefit them financially. This would generally happen just after halftime or when a team scored.
Exactly as happened in the Super Bowl, one of the biggest gambling events in the world.
As of this writing, the NFL still hasn't said what caused the outage, nor have electrical officials. Who knows, it was probably the crappy New Orleans power grid, or all the pyrotechnics from Beyonce's halftime show.
But then you think about The Fix.
Follow the gambling line; unfortunately, I bet the answer lies there.
July 1, 2013
http://books.google.ca/books?id=82NPW...
Three dense, difficult parts: Asia, Europe, and World Cup. Mostly World Cup 2006, but from 1934 to Women's 2007. Hill researches past and interviews present - boastful and blood-soaked mobsters from Russia, and Asia - even Pal 1998 "in prison" p210. 8 pg bw photos p191. I think linearly, perhaps chronological order easier than geographical?
Despite copious appendices - 50 pg notes, 10 pg bibliography, 12 pg index - I had to page through slowly to find references for remembered facts or use googlebooks search. One Russian mobster was taped "threatening to skin a Florida couple", and believed by FBI wiretappers p1. No country is safe. Whether small - Belgium p132, Cameroon World Cup 1982 & 1994 p236, Ghana (under-17s really over p246), Iceland p61, Portugal (Benfica president Azavedo was four years jail p170). Or large - France (1981-1990s Barin for Bordeaux, Marseilles p151), Germany p167, p223, Italy (see Moggi for Juventus p129), Spain (Atlético Madrid p160), Turkey p136. Sadly, small in population, large in area, Canada too (p 28).
The Chinese culture is steeped in gambling, inescapable. "In 1868, the British colonial lieutenant-governor of Malacca, a province of Malaysia "A passion for gambling pervades all classes of the Chinese .. the national pastime" p56. The potential profits are "enormous" p225.
The Chinese League "collapsed" p14 from fixing, turning attention to Europe. Disappointingly, officials currently ignore problem "utterly unpunished" p298, whistle-blower refs - Hoyzer imprisoned and stifled p168, or Gong Jianping, dead after "ten years in a hard labour camp" p15. Tabloid newspapers exposes, say Sun on Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar 1994 p179, but police prosecution is "obscure" p185 and ineffectual, at best "purely and simply ignorant" p 187.
Even in the beginning "golden age" p101, the most fascinating research to me, non-unionized English football/ soccer players were poorly paid, dropped if injured p110, slaves. Like investigation into college athletes exploited by NCAA http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12...
Tension and fear, like murder mystery or horror, when Hill trails faces, vanished bodies, "unsolved murders" p123, across continents to verify claims. From "representative of a powerful .. television network" to "poor graduate student" p215, he would not be missed. "The very oxygen I breathed seem [sic] valuable" p215. Memories are not reassuring, "Central American crime lord .. gynecological operating room" p216.
Popular former heroes, as in hockey and tennis p124 p321 (cricket p218), are intermediaries who give invisible access to teams, introduce fixers and vouch for their trustworthiness. The best act first as friends, speak in their own "working class .. vernacular" dialect, in contrast to owners who "patronize" and expect hand "kiss" p144. Advance "envelope with cash" (formerly official method of ref payment p165) called "coffee and shopping money" p149, once accepted, put naive youngsters morally in debt. Providing soon-public information, such as injuries, are "gateway crimes" p145, the slippery slope. The next immediate stage is "menace" "don't cross me. Or you'll get it" p145. Then "gifts .. frequently women" p150 - translator p159, electronics p160, watches.
Sex, "common in 1980s and 1990s tournaments in the Middle East" p161, "is still used frequently between referees and players" p169, for an entire chapter p151. Hill confesses how he himself, when subtly tempted, slid, "drunk .. lonely .. an idiot" p165, easily into the their same trap. He proposes "more women and professional referees, better pensions and education benefits for players, an integrity unit in each soccer association made up of ex-policemen" p xvii, "fast-track women officials" p188, and a "dozen other methods" FIFA chief Blatter ignores p300. Sweet thought, but girls also get lonely, drunk, and susceptible to female seducers.
In hopeful epilogue, Canadian Bob Munro started fight against corruption in Kenya, frees girls from violence and slum, via soccer. Munro demanded active participation "if you do something, I'll do something" p 307. Hill hopes "if a bunch of little girls from a slum and an unarmed Canadian can take on the mafia, violence, and coruption in soccer and survive and thrive, then so can we all." p313.
"In 1789, Wilberforce took on the entire English slave-owning class and gave a three-and-one-half hour parliamentary speech that outlined the horrors and atrocities of the slaving ships", and ended "Having heard all of this, you may choose to look the other way, but you can never again say that you did not know" p314.
A new fan, I was confused by mistakes and mis-calls, all that made no sense, in my first over-21 World Cup, and more recently. In "floodlights swindles .. fixers would switch the lights off" p184, three Malaysian Lims. Bingo. Hill's introductory claim "you may never look at sport in the same way again" comes true.
Some slight smiles over incompetent fixes, 2005 Genoa v Venezia "crazy" p27, and Juventus 1970s "we'll score an equalizer for you" own goal v Bologna p28, get serious fast. In dusty archives, 1994 interrogation under torture, elicited details from Malaysian League player how each position (goalkeeper, defender, forward p33) could, via omission more than commission, misplay the ball, "buy time" p32.
Despite no proof supporting the difficult choice of honest games for a database control group, comparison shows definite differences. First, still rare "own goals .. in 10% of the normal games .. 20% of fixed" p41. "Dishonest players seem to have fewer red cards .. 20% more goals" p42 "early" then "a nap" p43. Goals max "up in the first ten minutes .. down in the last ten" p44. So those last minute surges are real?
Revelations are useful elsewhere in life, as per "the man who drives too fast or fights with everyone, the woman who argues or dramatizes her way through life .. The thrill with gambling is not just winning .. Even losing produces great waves of natural drugs". p72 For almost nine decades, my mother has made everyone around her miserable, she will never change. So maybe will you understand others better.
Quibbles:
The front cover claims a new chapter, but which one? Minute-by-minute postponements p214, long verbatim conversations slow, clutter, and draw us in. Half-page "utterly inane" conversation "hello, hello" over "screech of feedback" is a time-waster p271.
Transcripts p116 translate from Russian, preponderance of f- necessary? Russian "internal" fixers "care which team wins the game .. gambling .. fixers making as much money as possible" p146. To set the distinction earlier could perhaps direct the narrative clearer.
Hill states as fact that rowing and "pedestrianism" (footracing) fell because of fixing p288. Other sources, primarily reference & ebooks, suggest more reasons, common themes: amateur, patronage, working-class, change. China "suffered the collapse of the credibility of its own soccer league three years before due to gambling match-fixing" p297. Fascinating historical documents and images.
* Classes and Cultures: England 1918 - 1951 by Ross McKibbin 2000 p 358
http://books.google.ca/books?id=xYuoP... horse-races easier for bets
* Encyclopedia of International Sports Studies (Google eBook) by Roger Bartlett, Chris Gratton, Christer G. Rolf 2012 p 51 http://books.google.ca/books?id=t6CaJ... amateur-professional conflict
* The Cartel: Inside the Rise and Imminent Fall of the NCAA 2011 by Taylor Branch http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12... NCAA exploits amateurs
* Sports in American History by Gerald Gems, Linda Borish, Gertrud Pfister 2008 isbn 9780736056212 0736056211 hb p 157
http://books.google.ca/books?id=oxNtf... working-class earn income
Rowing in England: A Social History. The Amateur Debate by Eric Halladay 1990 p 9, 21
http://books.google.ca/books?id=9Ee8A... blames pub sponsor shift to football
* The Anthropology of Sport and Human Movement: A Biocultural Perspective by Robert & Linda R. Sands 2012 p 294
http://books.google.ca/books?id=kiseo... amateurism allowed aristocrat interest in lower classes
* Sports and games of the 18th and 19th centuries by Robert Crego 2003 p 44
http://books.google.ca/books?id=XCl1c... rules written and horse-racing for gambling gentry
* Chambers's Edinburgh Journal #17-18 by William & Robert Chambers 1852 p 353
http://books.google.ca/books?id=Z0kFA... pedestrianists were publican's proteges
* The Victorians and Sport by Mike Huggins 2004 p 97, 108
http://books.google.ca/books?id=7TxuG... 1800s spectators move indoors, betting clubs elite middle-class
* Chapters in the History of British Journalism #7 Routledge 1998
http://books.google.ca/books?id=XbpcO... honesty introduced into horse-race gambling
Something Like the Gods: A Cultural History of the Athlete from Achilles to LeBron by Stephen Amido 2012 (Kobo ebook) p 78 95
http://books.google.ca/books?id=8hqa3... "rise of amateurism", 1919 Chicago White Sox threw World Series for $100K from NY mobster Rothstein, $5K to Shoeless Joe
* On a Roll: A History of Gambling and Lotteries in New Zealand by David Grant 1994 p 72 isbn 0864732775 hb isbn pb 086473266X pub Victoria University, Wellington © Historical Branch Dept Internal Affairs
http://books.google.ca/books?id=i6qjy... 1900s anti-gambling crusades, bookies banned, cricket still popular today
* The rise and fall of American sport: Mudville's revenge by Ted Vincent p 42-53 isbn 978-0-8032-9613-8
http://books.google.ca/books?id=HIhKV... backers saloons & amusement parks, indoor, lower class "coarse" so "destined to fall"
Typos and not:
p 193 "My time in Oxford growed me up." accurate but "non-standard" I like "growed"
p 215 "The very oxygen I breathed seem valuable." is "seemed"
p 313 "We can win this fight and the sport deserves us to fight it." is awkward, maybe "deserves that we do so"?
Three dense, difficult parts: Asia, Europe, and World Cup. Mostly World Cup 2006, but from 1934 to Women's 2007. Hill researches past and interviews present - boastful and blood-soaked mobsters from Russia, and Asia - even Pal 1998 "in prison" p210. 8 pg bw photos p191. I think linearly, perhaps chronological order easier than geographical?
Despite copious appendices - 50 pg notes, 10 pg bibliography, 12 pg index - I had to page through slowly to find references for remembered facts or use googlebooks search. One Russian mobster was taped "threatening to skin a Florida couple", and believed by FBI wiretappers p1. No country is safe. Whether small - Belgium p132, Cameroon World Cup 1982 & 1994 p236, Ghana (under-17s really over p246), Iceland p61, Portugal (Benfica president Azavedo was four years jail p170). Or large - France (1981-1990s Barin for Bordeaux, Marseilles p151), Germany p167, p223, Italy (see Moggi for Juventus p129), Spain (Atlético Madrid p160), Turkey p136. Sadly, small in population, large in area, Canada too (p 28).
The Chinese culture is steeped in gambling, inescapable. "In 1868, the British colonial lieutenant-governor of Malacca, a province of Malaysia "A passion for gambling pervades all classes of the Chinese .. the national pastime" p56. The potential profits are "enormous" p225.
The Chinese League "collapsed" p14 from fixing, turning attention to Europe. Disappointingly, officials currently ignore problem "utterly unpunished" p298, whistle-blower refs - Hoyzer imprisoned and stifled p168, or Gong Jianping, dead after "ten years in a hard labour camp" p15. Tabloid newspapers exposes, say Sun on Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar 1994 p179, but police prosecution is "obscure" p185 and ineffectual, at best "purely and simply ignorant" p 187.
Even in the beginning "golden age" p101, the most fascinating research to me, non-unionized English football/ soccer players were poorly paid, dropped if injured p110, slaves. Like investigation into college athletes exploited by NCAA http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12...
Tension and fear, like murder mystery or horror, when Hill trails faces, vanished bodies, "unsolved murders" p123, across continents to verify claims. From "representative of a powerful .. television network" to "poor graduate student" p215, he would not be missed. "The very oxygen I breathed seem [sic] valuable" p215. Memories are not reassuring, "Central American crime lord .. gynecological operating room" p216.
Popular former heroes, as in hockey and tennis p124 p321 (cricket p218), are intermediaries who give invisible access to teams, introduce fixers and vouch for their trustworthiness. The best act first as friends, speak in their own "working class .. vernacular" dialect, in contrast to owners who "patronize" and expect hand "kiss" p144. Advance "envelope with cash" (formerly official method of ref payment p165) called "coffee and shopping money" p149, once accepted, put naive youngsters morally in debt. Providing soon-public information, such as injuries, are "gateway crimes" p145, the slippery slope. The next immediate stage is "menace" "don't cross me. Or you'll get it" p145. Then "gifts .. frequently women" p150 - translator p159, electronics p160, watches.
Sex, "common in 1980s and 1990s tournaments in the Middle East" p161, "is still used frequently between referees and players" p169, for an entire chapter p151. Hill confesses how he himself, when subtly tempted, slid, "drunk .. lonely .. an idiot" p165, easily into the their same trap. He proposes "more women and professional referees, better pensions and education benefits for players, an integrity unit in each soccer association made up of ex-policemen" p xvii, "fast-track women officials" p188, and a "dozen other methods" FIFA chief Blatter ignores p300. Sweet thought, but girls also get lonely, drunk, and susceptible to female seducers.
In hopeful epilogue, Canadian Bob Munro started fight against corruption in Kenya, frees girls from violence and slum, via soccer. Munro demanded active participation "if you do something, I'll do something" p 307. Hill hopes "if a bunch of little girls from a slum and an unarmed Canadian can take on the mafia, violence, and coruption in soccer and survive and thrive, then so can we all." p313.
"In 1789, Wilberforce took on the entire English slave-owning class and gave a three-and-one-half hour parliamentary speech that outlined the horrors and atrocities of the slaving ships", and ended "Having heard all of this, you may choose to look the other way, but you can never again say that you did not know" p314.
A new fan, I was confused by mistakes and mis-calls, all that made no sense, in my first over-21 World Cup, and more recently. In "floodlights swindles .. fixers would switch the lights off" p184, three Malaysian Lims. Bingo. Hill's introductory claim "you may never look at sport in the same way again" comes true.
Some slight smiles over incompetent fixes, 2005 Genoa v Venezia "crazy" p27, and Juventus 1970s "we'll score an equalizer for you" own goal v Bologna p28, get serious fast. In dusty archives, 1994 interrogation under torture, elicited details from Malaysian League player how each position (goalkeeper, defender, forward p33) could, via omission more than commission, misplay the ball, "buy time" p32.
Despite no proof supporting the difficult choice of honest games for a database control group, comparison shows definite differences. First, still rare "own goals .. in 10% of the normal games .. 20% of fixed" p41. "Dishonest players seem to have fewer red cards .. 20% more goals" p42 "early" then "a nap" p43. Goals max "up in the first ten minutes .. down in the last ten" p44. So those last minute surges are real?
Revelations are useful elsewhere in life, as per "the man who drives too fast or fights with everyone, the woman who argues or dramatizes her way through life .. The thrill with gambling is not just winning .. Even losing produces great waves of natural drugs". p72 For almost nine decades, my mother has made everyone around her miserable, she will never change. So maybe will you understand others better.
Quibbles:
The front cover claims a new chapter, but which one? Minute-by-minute postponements p214, long verbatim conversations slow, clutter, and draw us in. Half-page "utterly inane" conversation "hello, hello" over "screech of feedback" is a time-waster p271.
Transcripts p116 translate from Russian, preponderance of f- necessary? Russian "internal" fixers "care which team wins the game .. gambling .. fixers making as much money as possible" p146. To set the distinction earlier could perhaps direct the narrative clearer.
Hill states as fact that rowing and "pedestrianism" (footracing) fell because of fixing p288. Other sources, primarily reference & ebooks, suggest more reasons, common themes: amateur, patronage, working-class, change. China "suffered the collapse of the credibility of its own soccer league three years before due to gambling match-fixing" p297. Fascinating historical documents and images.
* Classes and Cultures: England 1918 - 1951 by Ross McKibbin 2000 p 358
http://books.google.ca/books?id=xYuoP... horse-races easier for bets
* Encyclopedia of International Sports Studies (Google eBook) by Roger Bartlett, Chris Gratton, Christer G. Rolf 2012 p 51 http://books.google.ca/books?id=t6CaJ... amateur-professional conflict
* The Cartel: Inside the Rise and Imminent Fall of the NCAA 2011 by Taylor Branch http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12... NCAA exploits amateurs
* Sports in American History by Gerald Gems, Linda Borish, Gertrud Pfister 2008 isbn 9780736056212 0736056211 hb p 157
http://books.google.ca/books?id=oxNtf... working-class earn income
Rowing in England: A Social History. The Amateur Debate by Eric Halladay 1990 p 9, 21
http://books.google.ca/books?id=9Ee8A... blames pub sponsor shift to football
* The Anthropology of Sport and Human Movement: A Biocultural Perspective by Robert & Linda R. Sands 2012 p 294
http://books.google.ca/books?id=kiseo... amateurism allowed aristocrat interest in lower classes
* Sports and games of the 18th and 19th centuries by Robert Crego 2003 p 44
http://books.google.ca/books?id=XCl1c... rules written and horse-racing for gambling gentry
* Chambers's Edinburgh Journal #17-18 by William & Robert Chambers 1852 p 353
http://books.google.ca/books?id=Z0kFA... pedestrianists were publican's proteges
* The Victorians and Sport by Mike Huggins 2004 p 97, 108
http://books.google.ca/books?id=7TxuG... 1800s spectators move indoors, betting clubs elite middle-class
* Chapters in the History of British Journalism #7 Routledge 1998
http://books.google.ca/books?id=XbpcO... honesty introduced into horse-race gambling
Something Like the Gods: A Cultural History of the Athlete from Achilles to LeBron by Stephen Amido 2012 (Kobo ebook) p 78 95
http://books.google.ca/books?id=8hqa3... "rise of amateurism", 1919 Chicago White Sox threw World Series for $100K from NY mobster Rothstein, $5K to Shoeless Joe
* On a Roll: A History of Gambling and Lotteries in New Zealand by David Grant 1994 p 72 isbn 0864732775 hb isbn pb 086473266X pub Victoria University, Wellington © Historical Branch Dept Internal Affairs
http://books.google.ca/books?id=i6qjy... 1900s anti-gambling crusades, bookies banned, cricket still popular today
* The rise and fall of American sport: Mudville's revenge by Ted Vincent p 42-53 isbn 978-0-8032-9613-8
http://books.google.ca/books?id=HIhKV... backers saloons & amusement parks, indoor, lower class "coarse" so "destined to fall"
Typos and not:
p 193 "My time in Oxford growed me up." accurate but "non-standard" I like "growed"
p 215 "The very oxygen I breathed seem valuable." is "seemed"
p 313 "We can win this fight and the sport deserves us to fight it." is awkward, maybe "deserves that we do so"?
April 5, 2017
I chose The Fix by Declan Hill book because I love playing and watching soccer. After reading this my perception of the game has changed completely. The Fix is about corruption and fixing games in soccer, and the stories that Declan Hill shares are truly unforgettable.
The Fix tells stories of illegal activity in soccer in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. I like the fact that in the fix each chapter is a new story this keeps thing new and fresh. My favorite part of this book is the story about Nairobi, these girls are placed in one of the most poverty-stricken areas in the world. Joining the MYSA, these kids are given an opportunity to play the beautiful game. This story would give even the most harden reader some hope, as a group of girls are placed in a very difficult place but have a very strong work ethic. Working constantly to improve their game as they try to represent their country in a youth soccer tournament.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book but some of the stories of ruthless gamblers can leave the reader sick to their stomach. Caring only for their money, these gamblers will kill and rob anyone who stands in their path. This is a must read for any soccer fan, as fans should have the right to know how corrupt the game truly is. Yet they should also know how football can overcome prejudice and overcome poverty.
The Fix tells stories of illegal activity in soccer in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. I like the fact that in the fix each chapter is a new story this keeps thing new and fresh. My favorite part of this book is the story about Nairobi, these girls are placed in one of the most poverty-stricken areas in the world. Joining the MYSA, these kids are given an opportunity to play the beautiful game. This story would give even the most harden reader some hope, as a group of girls are placed in a very difficult place but have a very strong work ethic. Working constantly to improve their game as they try to represent their country in a youth soccer tournament.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book but some of the stories of ruthless gamblers can leave the reader sick to their stomach. Caring only for their money, these gamblers will kill and rob anyone who stands in their path. This is a must read for any soccer fan, as fans should have the right to know how corrupt the game truly is. Yet they should also know how football can overcome prejudice and overcome poverty.
May 29, 2025
J’ai mal à mon sport.
January 24, 2016
I didn't learn anything from this book that I didn't know from just being an avid soccer fan. This book would be a lot better if it suggested possible solutions to the problem. It didn't that I could see. A lot of effort was put into a book that details the inner workings of match fixing (mostly from early 90s Asian leagues) that he just couldn't back up with real proof that the fix had actually occurred. And I understand the need for keeping the author's various informants anonymous. But it rings a little hollow given how much he portrays his hatred of match fixing.
In a section about the practice of supplying prostitutes to referees in exchange for favourable results, the author puts forward that "there is an very easy, simple way of stopping that culture dead in its tracks - have more female match officials. 'Hey, did you like the girl I sent to your room last night?' becomes, in most cases, redundant if you are talking to a woman." Really!? This seems like a fairly prejudiced way to look at the situation. Especially since previously in that chapter, he is manipulated by a 'fixer' into drinking too much and 'snogging and groping with Annie and her friend'. Good work buddy, that makes you sound very professional.
In a section about the practice of supplying prostitutes to referees in exchange for favourable results, the author puts forward that "there is an very easy, simple way of stopping that culture dead in its tracks - have more female match officials. 'Hey, did you like the girl I sent to your room last night?' becomes, in most cases, redundant if you are talking to a woman." Really!? This seems like a fairly prejudiced way to look at the situation. Especially since previously in that chapter, he is manipulated by a 'fixer' into drinking too much and 'snogging and groping with Annie and her friend'. Good work buddy, that makes you sound very professional.
March 11, 2017
Thought about whether to give 4 or 5 stars but decided on 5, despite a couple of a bit trudging passages towards the end. Hugely important book and fascinating for a lifetime footy aficionado who is interested in societal matters. Someone criticized the anecdotalness of the book, in my mind the myriad meetings and situations added to the narrative and the book would be worse without them. Shieeet... I hardly never read a book of 300-400 pages in week, let alone one day but now did it in 24 hrs. I love investigative reporters - they fight against all that is shit. And football of all endeavours has given so many people so much - and I'm speaking from the comfort of my middle class flat in a western country - and these people want to cause it all to go to shit, for their personal monetary gain. Just think of the uplifting (for lack of a more inspiring word) story of the MYSA in the epilogue - just wow. Imma gonna think about these matters for weeks to come. Recommended!
November 7, 2014
Though dealing with an interesting subject, Mr. Hill makes some whopper assumptions and comes up with nothing solid other than his feelings that something wicked is going down. It's a lot of supposition and very little substance even for someone, like me, who truly believes that the games are often fixed. He's not a very good writer, and his part in his investigation reads as if he's trying way too hard to show himself in the best possible light. I was really hoping for something to light up the corruption in the game, and came away severely disappointed.
June 27, 2010
Brutal, brutal read as a soccer fan, but a must read never the less. The hard truth is not made particularly easier to read by Mr. Hill's writing style. While, I did not enjoy the fact the book read like an overly familiar LiveJournal entry, it did add to Mr. Hill's credibility. I had mixed feelings reading it, but I would recommend it to anyone.
October 17, 2017
I've never groaned aloud so much while reading a book. Painfully bad writing (too many useless metaphors), surface-level scholarship (I'm sure he did deeper research so why does he skim over it so much?), and weird moralizing about sexism and racism while not being aware of his own biases...It's a shame because the topic is interesting but this was such a sludge of a read.
November 8, 2017
Woah! Hillin kirja laittoi ottelumanipulaatiot ja laittoman vedonlyönnin perspektiiviin. Kaunis laji ja niin paljon likaista peliä, korruptiota ja rikollisuutta mafiaan asti. Todella hyvä kirja jos futis sekä kansainvälinen järjestäytynyt rikollisuus kiinnostaa.
September 9, 2019
This might be a great book. There's a lot of fascinating information in the first two sections about how Asian gambling syndicates have dug their claws into soccer around the world, and at the highest levels.
The problem is that the big climax is about four supposedly fixed games at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and there are enough niggling questions about them that it makes me doubt the rest of the book.
The biggest one, right off the bat. The fixer that Hill is observing is named Lee Chin (not his real name). Chin had supposedly worked with a U-17 coach to pay off members of the Ghanaian team. A quote:
"Then, on June 12 came Italy vs. Ghana. It was one of the matches that Chin claimed might be fixed. He had that the corrupt members of the squad would give up two games in the tournament. For the Italy game, the aim was to beat the spread. Italy was to win by two clear goals."
Those four sentences immediately made me doubt the veracity of his story. Before Ghana played its first game in 2006, Hill is saying that his fixer had already said they would throw two games, each by the two goals needed to cover the spread. Hill then points out that Ghana lost those two games -- 2-0 to Italy on June 12 and 3-0 to Brazil on June 27.
However, there is a huge problem that anyone who remembers the 2006 World Cup should immediately spot. Hill is claiming, in an award-winning book, that Ghana agreed to lose the opening match of a very tough group by two goals, yet were still guaranteeing that they would make the knockout round, where they would throw a second game.
When they did lose 2-0 to Italy, they were in massive trouble in the group. The Czech Republic had already routed the US 3-0, so Ghana to have any chance of advancing, they were going to have to beat the Czech Republic -- one of the highest-rated teams in the tournament -- and beat the United States *and* hope the Czechs didn't beat Italy. That was hardly a guaranteed outcome, yet the fixers had already reached a deal to pay them for a Round-of-16 loss?
Ghana did their part at the start, losing 2-0 to Italy. One of the things that Hill stresses in multiple books is that teams throwing games are told to give up goals early to avoid things looking suspicious at the end. Italy had a lot of scoring chances, but (and this is never mentioned in Hill's story about the game) didn't score their second goal, the one needed to cover the spread, until the 83rd minute.
Ghana then beat the Czech Republic 2-0, while the US and Italy drew 1-1 in an upset that the fixers didn't control. If Italy had won that game (and they easily could have), Ghana would have needed a big win over the US to be sure of advancing.
As it turned out, Italy beat the Czechs 2-0, so Ghana just needed a win over the US, and they got it ... but only barely. Playing without two key players, Sulley Muntari and Asamoah Gyan (suspended for two yellow cards in the first two matches), Ghana crippled Claudio Reyna early in the game, scored on another foul on Reyna, gave up an equalizer, took the lead on a phantom penalty, and were extremely lucky when the US missed some great chances.
So, Ghana did sneak into the second round, and then they broke Hill's heart by losing 3-0 to Brazil in the round-of-16. As in the Italy game, Ghana was terrible. It's quite possible that they had agreed to throw that game, but the idea that they could have guaranteed playing it is ridiculous.
There are other, smaller faults in the World-Cup section. While Hill is staying near the Ghanaian team (June 21-27), he is so impressed by them that he wonders if Chin hasn't changed his attention to fixing a different match. While talking about the financial issues surrounding the Togo team and their FA, Hill wonders if maybe the fix has been switched: "Togo had a game against South Korea coming up."
The Togo-South Korea game wasn't coming up - it had been played more than a week earlier, on June 13. Togo led 1-0 at halftime and, while they did lose 2-1, they covered the apparently constant two-goal spread.
He also reports that Chin told him that other groups of fixers had bought off Ecuador in their round-of-16 game against England, but the bet failed when England only won 1-0. Ecuador really screwed up if they were supposed to lose by two goals, since Ashley Cole's diving deflection was the only reason they weren't winning before David Beckham's FK in the 60th minute.
The fourth game that was supposedly fixed was Ukraine vs. Italy in the quarterfinals. This time, the betting line was "more than two goals", and Italy did win 3-0. Again, there are questions. Not only did Italy only lead 1-0 after 59 minutes, Ukraine had hit a post and had a goal cleared off the line.
My last concern is that the fixers claim to have affected four games, but only found one in the group stages, and then found three teams willing to throw games in the knockouts? Why would Ecuador or Ukraine do that, and why would Ghana throw a game, play their best football to sneak into the knockout rounds, and then throw another one?
These questions go unanswered in the book, and, unfortunately, it ruins the rest of it for me.
The problem is that the big climax is about four supposedly fixed games at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and there are enough niggling questions about them that it makes me doubt the rest of the book.
The biggest one, right off the bat. The fixer that Hill is observing is named Lee Chin (not his real name). Chin had supposedly worked with a U-17 coach to pay off members of the Ghanaian team. A quote:
"Then, on June 12 came Italy vs. Ghana. It was one of the matches that Chin claimed might be fixed. He had that the corrupt members of the squad would give up two games in the tournament. For the Italy game, the aim was to beat the spread. Italy was to win by two clear goals."
Those four sentences immediately made me doubt the veracity of his story. Before Ghana played its first game in 2006, Hill is saying that his fixer had already said they would throw two games, each by the two goals needed to cover the spread. Hill then points out that Ghana lost those two games -- 2-0 to Italy on June 12 and 3-0 to Brazil on June 27.
However, there is a huge problem that anyone who remembers the 2006 World Cup should immediately spot. Hill is claiming, in an award-winning book, that Ghana agreed to lose the opening match of a very tough group by two goals, yet were still guaranteeing that they would make the knockout round, where they would throw a second game.
When they did lose 2-0 to Italy, they were in massive trouble in the group. The Czech Republic had already routed the US 3-0, so Ghana to have any chance of advancing, they were going to have to beat the Czech Republic -- one of the highest-rated teams in the tournament -- and beat the United States *and* hope the Czechs didn't beat Italy. That was hardly a guaranteed outcome, yet the fixers had already reached a deal to pay them for a Round-of-16 loss?
Ghana did their part at the start, losing 2-0 to Italy. One of the things that Hill stresses in multiple books is that teams throwing games are told to give up goals early to avoid things looking suspicious at the end. Italy had a lot of scoring chances, but (and this is never mentioned in Hill's story about the game) didn't score their second goal, the one needed to cover the spread, until the 83rd minute.
Ghana then beat the Czech Republic 2-0, while the US and Italy drew 1-1 in an upset that the fixers didn't control. If Italy had won that game (and they easily could have), Ghana would have needed a big win over the US to be sure of advancing.
As it turned out, Italy beat the Czechs 2-0, so Ghana just needed a win over the US, and they got it ... but only barely. Playing without two key players, Sulley Muntari and Asamoah Gyan (suspended for two yellow cards in the first two matches), Ghana crippled Claudio Reyna early in the game, scored on another foul on Reyna, gave up an equalizer, took the lead on a phantom penalty, and were extremely lucky when the US missed some great chances.
So, Ghana did sneak into the second round, and then they broke Hill's heart by losing 3-0 to Brazil in the round-of-16. As in the Italy game, Ghana was terrible. It's quite possible that they had agreed to throw that game, but the idea that they could have guaranteed playing it is ridiculous.
There are other, smaller faults in the World-Cup section. While Hill is staying near the Ghanaian team (June 21-27), he is so impressed by them that he wonders if Chin hasn't changed his attention to fixing a different match. While talking about the financial issues surrounding the Togo team and their FA, Hill wonders if maybe the fix has been switched: "Togo had a game against South Korea coming up."
The Togo-South Korea game wasn't coming up - it had been played more than a week earlier, on June 13. Togo led 1-0 at halftime and, while they did lose 2-1, they covered the apparently constant two-goal spread.
He also reports that Chin told him that other groups of fixers had bought off Ecuador in their round-of-16 game against England, but the bet failed when England only won 1-0. Ecuador really screwed up if they were supposed to lose by two goals, since Ashley Cole's diving deflection was the only reason they weren't winning before David Beckham's FK in the 60th minute.
The fourth game that was supposedly fixed was Ukraine vs. Italy in the quarterfinals. This time, the betting line was "more than two goals", and Italy did win 3-0. Again, there are questions. Not only did Italy only lead 1-0 after 59 minutes, Ukraine had hit a post and had a goal cleared off the line.
My last concern is that the fixers claim to have affected four games, but only found one in the group stages, and then found three teams willing to throw games in the knockouts? Why would Ecuador or Ukraine do that, and why would Ghana throw a game, play their best football to sneak into the knockout rounds, and then throw another one?
These questions go unanswered in the book, and, unfortunately, it ruins the rest of it for me.
February 10, 2022
Good stuff, very interesting and distressing. My only complaint is the dated nature of the information but, well, time passes. Would love an update.
May 12, 2020
The epilogue was superb and made me change my rating from 3 to 4. Good read for those that love the beautiful game.
December 30, 2012
Sendo eu um apaixonado pelo futebol, confesso que desde os anos 90 deixei de acreditar na honestidade da maioria dos torneios que acompanho, perguntando a mim mesmo porque ainda sigo esses torneios se não acredito na justiça dos seus resultados?
É esse o fascínio do futebol. Por muito factos estranhos que eu tenha assistido à descarada, o certo é que gosto de acompanhar e assistir quando posso, pese embora não vá a um estádio de futebol há uns 15 anos e nem penso em lá voltar.
Declan Hill, jornalista, tornou-se num dos maiores investigadores do mundo sobre a viciação de resultados e corrupção no desporto e, em “Máfia no Futebol”, ele descreve a investigação que levou a cabo e que lhe deu a conhecer o mundo paralelo do futebol, um mundo da batota e de corrupção.
E, mesmo não me surpreendendo por aí além, o resultados dessas investigações, são de facto surpreendentes face à dimensão e o que abrange ou até onde abrange: tudo, literalmente tudo.
Fenómeno surgido na Ásia, grupos de arranjadores ligados a organizações criminosas, que arranjam jogos nos maiores torneios desportivos do mundo (não apenas no futebol), transformaram o futebol numa industria atolado em criminosos e batoteiros, onde o lucro e outros interesses financeiros, influenciam os resultados dos jogos e das competições.
Aposta ilegais à escala mundial, esses arranjadores são como um polvo cujos tentáculos tudo alcançam, pois o dinheiro fala mais alto. E ninguém escapa: jogadores corruptos que se deixam corromper para facilitar dentro de campo, dirigentes que usam das suas influências para corromper, árbitros que são “obrigados” a facilitar depois de uma noite bem acompanhado ou então “obrigados” a facilitar depois de prendinhas pequeninas em ouro e afins, treinadores que “erram” nas substituições a fim de facilitar a outra equipa, enfim, há de tudo e não se pense que é só na Ásia que isso sucede, não!
Pasmem-se, é na Europa onde reside a maior corrupção!
São aqui mencionados muitos clubes de nomeada na Europa. Alguns conhecidos que desceram de divisão e tardam em recompor-se. Outros que continuam a ganhar pese embora todos lhes conhecerem os vícios, haver nomes de envolvidos e até provas (basta ir ao Youtube). É aqui mencionado ao de leve, pois não fosse Portugal o país periférico com pouca expressão mas cujo o autor afirma “… o futebol português sempre este sob alvo de suspeitas de corrupção. Alegações de envolvimentos mafiosos são quase rotineiras…” , no Capítulo intitulado “O Sexo e os Homens de Negro”. Mas e embora tudo isso não me surpreende-se, o que de facto me espantou é quando o autor aborda a viciação de resultados no Campeonato do Mundo de Futebol.
Fiquei, confesso, siderado com o que li e não é que depois fui ver ao Youtube as imagens dos jogos mencionados e, vendo por esse prisma, é de facto muito estranho como é que essas equipas sofrem certos golos, alguns deles perfeitamente infantis. E aí sim, senti-me triste pela quantidade de milhões de pessoas que acreditam na honestidade do jogo, naqueles milhares que pagam fortunas para ir aos estádios, naqueles que pagam canais televisivos, naqueles que poupam durante quatro anos para depois acompanharem as suas selecções ao Campeonato do Mundo e sobretudo, fiquei triste pelas pessoas que nada têm e cujo futebol, é um escape que dura hora e meia e onde eles se esquecem da dureza da vida. Tudo em prol do lucro, destrui-se o jogo.
Um livro excelente. Narra como se procede aos arranjos, como se formam os esquemas, os interesses das apostas ilegais, os interesses nos arranjos de jogos com equipas mais pequenas. Jogos que supostamente são fáceis de ganhar mas que interessa ter já como garantido para impedir lesões que impeçam os jogadores de jogar o jogo seguinte, esse sim, muito mais importante. Dá para compreender porque é que certas equipas jogam de determinada forma com uma equipa A e depois dão tudo quando jogam com uma outra equipa B, rival da equipa A.
Em suma, arrepiante o que é descrito no livro e algo que pode fazer com que muitos adeptos se desliguem desse jogo que é de facto maravilhoso.
É esse o fascínio do futebol. Por muito factos estranhos que eu tenha assistido à descarada, o certo é que gosto de acompanhar e assistir quando posso, pese embora não vá a um estádio de futebol há uns 15 anos e nem penso em lá voltar.
Declan Hill, jornalista, tornou-se num dos maiores investigadores do mundo sobre a viciação de resultados e corrupção no desporto e, em “Máfia no Futebol”, ele descreve a investigação que levou a cabo e que lhe deu a conhecer o mundo paralelo do futebol, um mundo da batota e de corrupção.
E, mesmo não me surpreendendo por aí além, o resultados dessas investigações, são de facto surpreendentes face à dimensão e o que abrange ou até onde abrange: tudo, literalmente tudo.
Fenómeno surgido na Ásia, grupos de arranjadores ligados a organizações criminosas, que arranjam jogos nos maiores torneios desportivos do mundo (não apenas no futebol), transformaram o futebol numa industria atolado em criminosos e batoteiros, onde o lucro e outros interesses financeiros, influenciam os resultados dos jogos e das competições.
Aposta ilegais à escala mundial, esses arranjadores são como um polvo cujos tentáculos tudo alcançam, pois o dinheiro fala mais alto. E ninguém escapa: jogadores corruptos que se deixam corromper para facilitar dentro de campo, dirigentes que usam das suas influências para corromper, árbitros que são “obrigados” a facilitar depois de uma noite bem acompanhado ou então “obrigados” a facilitar depois de prendinhas pequeninas em ouro e afins, treinadores que “erram” nas substituições a fim de facilitar a outra equipa, enfim, há de tudo e não se pense que é só na Ásia que isso sucede, não!
Pasmem-se, é na Europa onde reside a maior corrupção!
São aqui mencionados muitos clubes de nomeada na Europa. Alguns conhecidos que desceram de divisão e tardam em recompor-se. Outros que continuam a ganhar pese embora todos lhes conhecerem os vícios, haver nomes de envolvidos e até provas (basta ir ao Youtube). É aqui mencionado ao de leve, pois não fosse Portugal o país periférico com pouca expressão mas cujo o autor afirma “… o futebol português sempre este sob alvo de suspeitas de corrupção. Alegações de envolvimentos mafiosos são quase rotineiras…” , no Capítulo intitulado “O Sexo e os Homens de Negro”. Mas e embora tudo isso não me surpreende-se, o que de facto me espantou é quando o autor aborda a viciação de resultados no Campeonato do Mundo de Futebol.
Fiquei, confesso, siderado com o que li e não é que depois fui ver ao Youtube as imagens dos jogos mencionados e, vendo por esse prisma, é de facto muito estranho como é que essas equipas sofrem certos golos, alguns deles perfeitamente infantis. E aí sim, senti-me triste pela quantidade de milhões de pessoas que acreditam na honestidade do jogo, naqueles milhares que pagam fortunas para ir aos estádios, naqueles que pagam canais televisivos, naqueles que poupam durante quatro anos para depois acompanharem as suas selecções ao Campeonato do Mundo e sobretudo, fiquei triste pelas pessoas que nada têm e cujo futebol, é um escape que dura hora e meia e onde eles se esquecem da dureza da vida. Tudo em prol do lucro, destrui-se o jogo.
Um livro excelente. Narra como se procede aos arranjos, como se formam os esquemas, os interesses das apostas ilegais, os interesses nos arranjos de jogos com equipas mais pequenas. Jogos que supostamente são fáceis de ganhar mas que interessa ter já como garantido para impedir lesões que impeçam os jogadores de jogar o jogo seguinte, esse sim, muito mais importante. Dá para compreender porque é que certas equipas jogam de determinada forma com uma equipa A e depois dão tudo quando jogam com uma outra equipa B, rival da equipa A.
Em suma, arrepiante o que é descrito no livro e algo que pode fazer com que muitos adeptos se desliguem desse jogo que é de facto maravilhoso.
November 15, 2020
Ne spominju se mnogo glavne lige koje su predmet moga interesovanja, vec se spominje Azija, Belgija itd
Od top desavanja se spominje Svjetsko prvenstvo i reprezentacija Gane.
Previse siroko, a premalo novih i konkretni informacija koje bi trebale da se dobiju od jednog istrazivackog novinara.
Od top desavanja se spominje Svjetsko prvenstvo i reprezentacija Gane.
Previse siroko, a premalo novih i konkretni informacija koje bi trebale da se dobiju od jednog istrazivackog novinara.
July 5, 2015
While this book seems to put a bit of a damper on the sport of soccer, it is an interesting look into the world of organized crime across the globe.
With sports gambling becoming more and more popular, people have looked to find ways to guarantee profit through the fixing of soccer matches at nearly all levels of soccer. With money becoming more important than the love of sports for some, fixers will generally be able to find people willing to lend them a hand. From referees, to players, to organizations themselves, there will always be someone that will be looking to make extra money than what their salaries promise them. Especially for those from poorer countries that depend on money for needs far greater than winning a game of soccer, fixing a match appears to be an acceptable outlet to solve some of life's problems. While one hopes for a bright future in which there exists no corruption in the sport of soccer, it will likely be some time until techniques appropriate to address certain dishonest behaviours are found successful. I believe that any improvements to addressing the problem of corruption in soccer will have to start from the top and work its way down. That means FIFA will need to figure out its act, and slowly rid itself of the criminal components of its organization.
With sports gambling becoming more and more popular, people have looked to find ways to guarantee profit through the fixing of soccer matches at nearly all levels of soccer. With money becoming more important than the love of sports for some, fixers will generally be able to find people willing to lend them a hand. From referees, to players, to organizations themselves, there will always be someone that will be looking to make extra money than what their salaries promise them. Especially for those from poorer countries that depend on money for needs far greater than winning a game of soccer, fixing a match appears to be an acceptable outlet to solve some of life's problems. While one hopes for a bright future in which there exists no corruption in the sport of soccer, it will likely be some time until techniques appropriate to address certain dishonest behaviours are found successful. I believe that any improvements to addressing the problem of corruption in soccer will have to start from the top and work its way down. That means FIFA will need to figure out its act, and slowly rid itself of the criminal components of its organization.
May 8, 2018
Amazing book, I lived it with all of my emotions, memory and senses. It happens only once in few years that I read a book that I just can't leave it. Or in better words, that I can't wait to get home to just go directly to the book, just like a kid going to his PS4.
It took me almost a week to read, because with every single new fact I just pose, go to the net and check the news about it, the goals, the games , kinda do reality check of what Declan was writing, as he was writing and overwhelming facts on the beautiful game. To my surprise he was always honest. I even read a rare story that happened to referee at a very old match from the Middle East. I know the game, the result, and the referee controversy decision. I checked in Arabic forums and found someone writing about it (between the lines) about that referee the exact same description that Declan claim he got from an Asian referee. That gave me big confidence on the book.
Apart from the correct facts, I loved the way he analyzed each story, challenged if it is correct or not. It is a good example of reality check foe any case in life, not just football. I followed it up with his other book, which is more rational, almost same facts, bit in organized way, and without any drama or emotions.
As a man who in deep love with the game and enjoy the history of it, it is one of best football books I read!
It took me almost a week to read, because with every single new fact I just pose, go to the net and check the news about it, the goals, the games , kinda do reality check of what Declan was writing, as he was writing and overwhelming facts on the beautiful game. To my surprise he was always honest. I even read a rare story that happened to referee at a very old match from the Middle East. I know the game, the result, and the referee controversy decision. I checked in Arabic forums and found someone writing about it (between the lines) about that referee the exact same description that Declan claim he got from an Asian referee. That gave me big confidence on the book.
Apart from the correct facts, I loved the way he analyzed each story, challenged if it is correct or not. It is a good example of reality check foe any case in life, not just football. I followed it up with his other book, which is more rational, almost same facts, bit in organized way, and without any drama or emotions.
As a man who in deep love with the game and enjoy the history of it, it is one of best football books I read!
February 1, 2009
Seemed to skim the surface too much and not truly delve into match fixing beyond the Asian fixers. Interesting stuff to read about but their leagues are small fish compared to Europe and S.America. I really wanted to read the nitty gritty about fixes in Europe and S.America, what I got was some anecdotal information about fixes in Europe (don't recall fixes in S.America beyond international matches mentioned) and how corrupt leagues were in Asia and Africa.
Now I'm sure the Croatia Turkey game in Euro 2008 was a fix. Too many basic errors by pros that amateurs such as myself try really hard not to commit. Also when I play I actually try. That game is the heartache of most Croatians.
Could I recommend this book. It's a coin toss. Just need to make sure that one side of the coin is weighted.
Oh yeah why bother gambling if the outcome is a foregone conclusion?
Now I'm sure the Croatia Turkey game in Euro 2008 was a fix. Too many basic errors by pros that amateurs such as myself try really hard not to commit. Also when I play I actually try. That game is the heartache of most Croatians.
Could I recommend this book. It's a coin toss. Just need to make sure that one side of the coin is weighted.
Oh yeah why bother gambling if the outcome is a foregone conclusion?
August 9, 2011
Most of this book did not come as much of a suprise to me. In fact what was disappointing in this book, it didn't tell me anything I didn't know or couldn`t have easily guessed or figured out on my own.
Curruption and gambling syndicates in Asia.......NO WAY....Mobsters in RUSSIA......are you serious!! They control FOOTBALL and HOCKEY teams, they are dangerous and may do bad things?!!
Isn`t this common knowledge.........yawn.
The fact that the book didn`t discuss the most recent scandels in Italy was a massive omission.
I will say that the author has a rathar large set of balls himself and I do not for a minute discount his efforts to shed some needed light on this subject.
FIFA better wake up.
Curruption and gambling syndicates in Asia.......NO WAY....Mobsters in RUSSIA......are you serious!! They control FOOTBALL and HOCKEY teams, they are dangerous and may do bad things?!!
Isn`t this common knowledge.........yawn.
The fact that the book didn`t discuss the most recent scandels in Italy was a massive omission.
I will say that the author has a rathar large set of balls himself and I do not for a minute discount his efforts to shed some needed light on this subject.
FIFA better wake up.
January 21, 2016
This was an eye opening book about the way that the organization of FIFA has been corrupted by match fixing and the wrong people get involved in such a beautiful sport. The game has become so much more about money than the sport over the last 50 years, especially in Asia. People are starting to put there love for teams aside and worrying about making profit rather than caring about the true success of a team. The author does a great job of interviewing important people along the way to get out the best possible story.
I would suggest this book to anyone who really loves the game of soccer but wants to find out more about the money and corrupt side of the game. It could've been a bit better if they went into more of the detailed stuff about todays game and Sepp Blatter, but overall, it was a pretty good book.
I would suggest this book to anyone who really loves the game of soccer but wants to find out more about the money and corrupt side of the game. It could've been a bit better if they went into more of the detailed stuff about todays game and Sepp Blatter, but overall, it was a pretty good book.
January 30, 2009
Quite a good book, though I have some problems with his writing style (or his editor, I still haven't decided). He presents the idea that fixers have infiltrated every level of every type of sport throughout the world.
My biggest problem is that with all this new information, I'm a little afraid to talk to anyone about it since the only people who would care might be seriously disillusioned by the information in this book, especially those who are very devoted to English football. I don't like to be the one who disillusions someone; it makes me feel like I just told someone Santa doesn't exist... WHICH HE DOES.
My biggest problem is that with all this new information, I'm a little afraid to talk to anyone about it since the only people who would care might be seriously disillusioned by the information in this book, especially those who are very devoted to English football. I don't like to be the one who disillusions someone; it makes me feel like I just told someone Santa doesn't exist... WHICH HE DOES.
June 30, 2015
This is an important book, but ultimately not a great read. My expectations for the book were high because I was expecting an open and shut case with names named and thrilling nailbiters. A great deal of the information the author shares is anonymized for personal safety reasons, and I get the impression that many of the accusations would not hold up in court (although, that is probably too high a bar to require). Unfortunately, it makes it seem like a work of fiction even though the claims are likely valid - especially with all that's come to light in recent months with indictments against FIFA officials.
July 31, 2018
Declan Hill tuo esiin sellaisen aineiston jalkapallon sopuotteluista, että heikompaa alkaa oikein hirvittämään. Kun hän vielä tuo mukaan suomalaisen sopupelijupakan ja kertoo kuinka jalkapallon MM-kisojen otteluihin on voitu vaikuttaa, alkaa lukijalta mennä usko rehelliseen jalkapalloon. Hill kirjoittaa sujuvasti ja hän vie tarinaa eteenpäin kuin salapoliisiromaanin tekijä. Valitettavasti kirja on jo hieman vanhentunut ja sen voisi kyllä päivittää, sillä uusia tapauksia on kyllä tullut esiin myös Suomessa. Kirja on ehdottomasti lukemisen arvoinen ja se on pakollinen kaikille urheiluvedonlyöntiä harrastaville. Pisteet 8/10.
Read
July 30, 2011A worthwhile read for any fan of the beautiful game. Alot of what Hill provides is circumstantial and anecdotal evidence, but there is enough there to merit serious consideration, and probably investigation. It has long been obvious that things are not on the up and up within FIFA and UEFA. This book shows that it is time for some serious inquiries into the way business is being done in the world of soccer. Ultimately Hill leaves it on upbeat note: there are reasons to hope for better, and the game is worth it.
June 23, 2014
A great read for anyone a fan of Soccer (futbol) who wants to know more about the sport they love. With such a wide draw of fans across the planet, author Declan Hill implores us to be aware that match fixing has occurred and continues to occur across every level of the game. It is up to us, the fans to pressure our organizations to keep the beautiful game pure, knowing the sordid and laughable actions that come from FIFA. Hill could have been tougher on FIFA and his writing style sometimes bogs down the main narrative, but I would recommend this book on awareness factor alone.
November 9, 2013
Fantastic book. Really changed the way I look at soccer. A lot of crazy stuff going on out there. Great research, tons of first person information on what is happening straight from the author Declan Hill. I'm looking forward to his next one, apparently coming out soon. Since the book came out he has been hired by a few soccer federations to help fix some of their gambling issues. FIFA of course continues to bury their heads in the sand. He (Declan) is a great interview if you ever get a chance to hear him.
December 16, 2015
Traducido al castellano como "Juego sucio", la contraportada promete pruebas de partidos amañaos, revelaciones que dejarán al lector en estado de shock, y no lo ofrece. Quizás el autor sabe más de lo que cuenta y por seguridad o falta de pruebas calla el resto, pero la sensación tras leer el libro es decepcionante.
Habla mucho, eso sí, de los amaños en las ligas asiáticas, que a nadie importan, y de la Premier League en los 60 y 70, los años de plomo del fútbol inglés. Pero nada de Champions y Mundial, que es lo gordo.
Habla mucho, eso sí, de los amaños en las ligas asiáticas, que a nadie importan, y de la Premier League en los 60 y 70, los años de plomo del fútbol inglés. Pero nada de Champions y Mundial, que es lo gordo.
June 11, 2011
Interesting book, on corruption in soccer. I was hoping for a historical overview of the subject, but this book is rather an account of Declan Hill's investigation of corruption in Malaysia and Singapore, and the growing influence of Asian gambling on European club soccer. He also devotes some time to investigation possible match fixing in the World Cup. A very interesting read and a plea to FIFA and UEFA to take action before it is too late.
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