12 football players and coaches arrested on suspicion of match-fixing in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's anti-corruption body has arrested 12 local soccer players and coaches from three teams for allegedly manipulating match results after illegal bets were placed on the outcome over three soccer seasons.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) carried out Operation Tenacity on Monday, arresting the 12 men after gathering evidence last year.

“Their corruption process was not very smooth, but such acts are like a virus that could infect the football league,” said ICAC senior investigator Matthew Chang Chor-ming.

The 12 suspects, aged 24 to 54, include a head coach and two players from a football club belonging to the Hong Kong Premier League; a coach and four players from a Hong Kong second division football club; and a player from another Hong Kong second division football club.

Three other men were also arrested on suspicion of acting as betting agents, and Chang revealed they were head coach and players of different football teams.

Two coaches from the North district were summoned to the ICAC premises on Monday, according to sources.

Although investigators did not reveal the number of matches involved, Chang said that Premier League matches played in the current season, as well as Division 2 matches in two seasons between 2021 and 2023, would have been affected.

Armed with search warrants, ICAC agents searched more than 20 premises, including the residences of those arrested. More than 20 people, including several football players, were also questioned as part of the investigation.

The amount involved in this case cannot yet be determined as officers are still gathering information.

In February, three soccer players and a betting agent were charged with athlete bribery for fixing matches in two seasons between 2021 and last year, as well as illegal gambling.

All four men were released on bail after appearing in Eastern Court and are expected to appear again in June.

Last year, the city's anti-corruption agency arrested 23 people, including a team's coach and 11 soccer players, for allegedly accepting bribes to fix matches and make profits. thanks to illegal sports gambling.

Players were reportedly offered up to HK$10,000 (US$1,280) as a reward for losing a match, with some suspected of winning by placing illegal bets.