The Cheat Sheet - A Roundup of Sports, Gambling and Crime News - Feb. 24, 2025
Match-fixing from Afghanistan to Ukraine, doping in the NBA, billion-dollar illegal betting rings, we break down who’s cheating, who’s covering it up, and who’s finally getting caught.
The Cheat Sheet - February 24, 2025 - Issue 6
The weekly briefing for developments in sports, gambling, and crime all around the world, compiled with support from Francisco Baranca and Chris Rasmussen.
FOOTBALL
AFGHANISTAN – Afghan club disbands after alleging match fixing
Afghan football club, Attack Energy, has voluntarily disbanded in protest at what it says is the national federation’s failure to properly investigate allegations of match fixing. Attack Energy led the Afghanistan Champions League for most of the season until eventual winners Abu Muslim secured an 8–0 victory over Adalat Farah—a match marred by controversy, as both Abu Muslim and Adalat Farah are owned by the same entity.
BRAZIL – Brazil extends match-fixing probe into Lucas Paqueta
Brazilian football authorities have widened their investigation into match-fixing following new evidence in the Lucas Paqueta case. New evidence concerning alleged match-fixer William Rogatto is being awaited. This expanded probe comes just as the English FA prepares to deliver a decision into Paqueta.
CAMEROON – Samuel Eto’o exonerated by CAF: End of affair or mere reprieve?
In a significant ruling, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has cleared Samuel Eto’o of match-fixing allegations after an exhaustive review of the evidence. The decision stated that there was insufficient proof of misconduct. Eto’o had originally been fined 200,000 USD and suspended from the CAF’s executive committee.
CYPRUS – KTFF disciplinary committee postpones match-fixing investigation
The Cyprus Turkish Football Federation (KTFF) disciplinary committee in Northern Cyprus has delayed its investigation into alleged match-fixing incidents, involving at least two clubs: Tur Miracle Değirmenlik SK andTürk Ocağı Limasol SK.
ISRAEL – Israel FA suspends Liga Alef North for alleged systematic match-fixing
Repeated match-fixing allegations led the Israeli FA to suspend a regional third-division league, Liga Alef North, for at least three weeks. Over the past two years, the IFA has implemented measures to combat corruption, including financial oversight in Liga Alef, hiring a new investigative firm and mandatory polygraph tests.
HONG KONG – North District team aims to erase match-fixing scar
Hong Kong’s North District football team is beginning a revamp to seek to eliminate the long-lasting effects of match-fixing, after one coach and two players from the team were arrested in May 2024. The initiative includes stricter oversight and training programs designed to restore competitive fairness and attract genuine talent.
MALTA - Two Maltese players banned for life for fixing 2023 game
The Malta Football Association has banned football players Manwel Xerri and Leonard Camilleri for attempting to bribe another player to affect the outcome of a match between Qala Saints FC and Nadur Youngsters FC in March 2024. Nadur Youngsters goalkeeper Steve Sultana said the two men offered him a government job, which would have paid him without requiring him to attend work, if Qala Saints won the match.
MEXICO – FMF uncovers another match-fixing scandal linked to betting
A series of corruption claims against Mexican football teams continues to worsen. A match played on February 8, 2025, between Correcaminos de la UAT and Celaya came under suspicion. A video circulating on social media allegedly shows Correcaminos players negotiating the match result with bettors. A week ago, seven players were banned for a collective 57 years for fixing third-division matches.
RUSSIA – Putin’s war machine: Inside UEFA corruption controversies
An exposé by Josimar alleges that Russian political interference has deeply infiltrated UEFA’s governance, with Kremlin state interests influencing key decisions. The report, titled "Putin’s War Machine," argues that these practices have compromised the integrity of European competitions.
SPAIN – Rubiales appeal against three-year ban rejected
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed an appeal by Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Federation, against a three-year ban from football dating back to October 2023. Rubiales was banned from any football-related activity for sexually assaulting Spain Jenni Hermoso after the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.
TUNISIA – Former federation head jailed for four years on corruption charges
In Tunisia, former federation president Wadie Jary has been condemned on corruption charges after a lengthy investigation revealed evidence of bribery and mismanagement during his tenure. Jary ran the Tunisian federation from 2012 to 2023 and faced allegations of match-fixing, money laundering and fraud.
TURKEY – TFF President issues ultimatum against match-fixers
The president of the Turkish football federation, İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, has issued a stern ultimatum, warning that those found guilty of match manipulation will face severe penalties. In an interview, he claimed that the previous TFF administration had falsified financial figures during an audit and that the matter had been referred to prosecutors.
UKRAINE – Football referee claims senior integrity official demanded bribes
Ukrainian referee Dmytro Kryvushkin has claimed that anti-match fixing officials demanded bribes to issue referees with an ethics certificate proving they were not facing any criminal charges. This certificate was mandatory in order for referees to be assigned to games.
ATHLETICS
JAPAN – Olympic silver medalist in race walking banned for doping
Japanese race walker, Koki Ikeda, has been banned from competition for four years by the Athletics Integrity Unit after abnormalities were found in three blood samples in 2023. Ikeda won silver at the Tokyo 2012 Olympics and the 2022 World Championships.
BASKETBALL
CHILE – Investigation shakes Chilean basketball: Dark links between players, gamblers, and match fixing
Chilean basketball authorities are investigating suspicious matches played during the 2015-16 season. While these matches took place a decade ago, reports have stated that Chilean basketball players multiplied their salaries by several times by betting on their own games.
NBA – Portis disqualified amid Milwaukee doping scandal
Milwaukee Bucks center Bobby Portis has been banned for 25 games after testing positive for tramadol, which can increase athletes’ endurance. Portis and his agent claimed tramadol was confused for Toradol, an authorised anti-inflammatory drug.
GAMBLING
USA – RED44 illegal sports betting defendants plead guilty
Ten defendants in a major US case against a vast illegal sports betting network have pleaded guilty. The network, known as Red44, ran for 15 years through an offshore server in Costa Rica. It received over $2 billion in wagers over the course of its lifetime, before being dismantled in 2023.
HANDBALL
INDIA – Handball players up in arms after being wrongly accused of match-fixing
Handball players in India are protesting after a high-ranking sports official claimed that handball matches at India’s recent National Games had been fixed. This was a mistake, as netball games were reportedly fixed, not handball. These inflammatory remarks have caused a political firestorm, with handball athletes threatening to turn in their medals.
MMA
USA – Neo-Nazi MMA clubs starting Substack newsletters
An investigation in the United States has revealed that MMA clubs associated with neo-Nazi groups have started newsletters on popular platform, Substack. This is yet more evidence that active fight clubs have become a breeding ground for neo-Nazi ideology and membership around the world.
POOL
UGANDA – Match-fixing allegations cloud the sprint for the pool title
Allegations of match-fixing have cast a shadow over Uganda’s pool championships. Detailed accounts from officials indicate that irregularities in play—such as unusually slow break shots and inconsistent scoring—may point to deliberate manipulation designed to influence the title race.
SPORT IN SCHOOLS
FRANCE - International School Sport Federation subject of major investigation for mismanagement
Over the last six months, the International School Sport Federation and its president, Laurent Petrynka, have been under the microscope for allegations of widespread fraud, poor governance, and reported embezzlement. Despite Petrynka resigning, the ISSF’s relationship with Bahrain, amid other controversies, continues to dog the federation.
WHAT YOU SHOULD BE READING
DOPING – Is mitochondrial therapy the next sports doping scandal? (The Times)
FOOTBALL – AFC launches anti-match fixing capacity building educational programme (Inside World Football)
FOOTBALL – CAS & Football Annual Report 2024 (FIFA)
FOOTBALL – Pay to play for national teams: A global scandal threatening football’s future (The Football Week)
FOOTBALL – Explosive report on match fixing in Malta (FIFPro)
A visually engaging exposé that collates critical evidence and firsthand testimonies on the pervasive issue of match fixing in modern football.GAMBLING – 2024 Annual Report (International Betting Integrity Association)
TENNIS – Tennis world No1 Sinner is officially a doper ... have faith in his innocence at your peril (Sporting Intelligence)
WOMEN’S SPORT – 'Every woman has fear' - why risks facing female athletes remain (BBC)