Bats and tricks, Belgian football shock continues

A massive corruption scandal has involved Belgian football. Authorities have conducted dozens of police raids in Belgium and other European states, under a major investigation into financial fraud and match tricks.

A total of 44 raids have been undertaken in Belgium, France, Luksenburg, Cyprus, Serbia and Macedonia, according to Federal Prosecutor Belge.

Prosecutor's Declaration

The prosecution stated that “following a 1-year investigation into football gathered evidence of: questionable financial activities by sports agents, athletes, managers and club representatives. Their involvement was proven in the possible impact of match trick and score fixing.

Judicial investigations concern <x0 criminal organisation, money laundering and private corruption”, Aljazeera says in the statement.

Some agents are suspected of hiding from Belgian commission authorities for transfers, players' fees and other payments, as well as may have been part of match tricks during the 2017-18 season.

 Investigation into Three Big Teams

The investigation has not escaped even the country's largest teams as well: Anderlecht, Standard Liege and Brugge, the latter and the defending champion in Belgium.

Their owners have expressed -“that they are open to the investigation” and that they are fully willing to co-operate with authorities. Also, Brugge's club has declared that their Croatian coach Ivan Leko has also been questioned and has given his testimony on the issue.

Another interrogator is also former Anderlecht manager, one of the most famous football agents in Belgian Mogi Bayatein.

Reactions on the Issue

The Belgium Football Association, which noted that “will contribute to full transparency in the investigation, if required by”.

While in a Tweeter on Wednesday, October 11th, Belgium's Justice Minister Cohen Geens wrote <x0 game formation undermines the integrity of sports. Department of Justice is working for an honest sport”.