The Big Match-Fixing Scandal: World Tennis’ Best Kept Secret?

16 top 50 players allegedly were involved in match-fixing but why haven’t the authorities taken action yet?

The entire tennis bandwagon had landed in Australia over the weekend for the first Grand Slam of the year. However, instead of games, sets and matches - it was the sports’ apparent best kept secret that found its way into the headlines on Monday.

Match-fixing was back to haunt tennis and this time it was going to take a lot of people down with it. Or so it seems.

What Happened?

BBC and BuzzFeed News published reports on Monday claiming that according to secret files obtained by them, widespread match-fixing existed at the top level of world tennis, including at Wimbledon.

These secret files, according to the news outlets, included the findings of an investigation set up in 2007 by the sport’s organising body, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).

Who is Involved?

According to the secret files- over the last 10 years 16 players ranked in the top 50 have been repeatedly flagged to the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU), which was set up to police the sport, over suspicions they have thrown matches.

However, all the players, including Grand Slam winners, were allowed to continue competing.

Eight in fact were even featuring in this Australian Open. No player has been named yet.

Where Were The Matches Fixed?

Three Wimbledon matches are under the scanner with the documents show the inquiry found betting syndicates in Russia, northern Italy and Sicily making hundreds of thousands of pounds betting on games.

Were Players Punished?

In 2008, the inquiry team asked the sports’ bosses to investigate 28 players who they suspected. However, the findings were never followed up. Instead, tennis authorities introduced a new anti-corruption code in 2009 but after taking legal advice were told previous corruption offences could not be pursued.

The BBC and BuzzFeed News were also given the names of other current players they said the TIU has repeatedly been warned about by betting organisations, sports integrity units and professional gamblers.

What Are The Bosses Saying?

Information received about possible match-fixing by tennis authorities had not been suppressed and was investigated thoroughly by its integrity unit, the chairman of the ATP Tour Chris Kermode told reporters on Monday.

The governing bodies for the sport, and the Tennis Integrity Unit, issued a joint statement, read by ATP chairman Chris Kermode at a hastily-convened news conference at Melbourne Park.

Kermode said tennis authorities “absolutely reject any suggestion that evidence of match-fixing has been suppressed for any reason, or isn’t being investigated.”