Israel Investigates Alleged Illegal Betting, Match Fixing in Soccer League
Posted on: February 18, 2025, 10:15h.
Last updated on: February 18, 2025, 12:58h.
- Two investigation firms looked into allegations
- Police may take over inquiry
- Half of the league games could have been fixed
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One of Israel’s soccer leagues is under scrutiny this week after accusations were made that as many as half of its games were fixed in an alleged betting scandal.
The allegations focus on Israel’s League A North, which forms part of the country’s third-level soccer league.
The scandal came to light after Fadi Mahamid, director of the Umm al-Fahm youth team, confessed to fixing 13 games during the 2023-24 League A North season.
As word of wrongdoing spread, the Israel Football Association (IFA) engaged two investigation firms, which looked into the accusations over six months. The Union of European Football Associations has also taken part in the inquiry.
The IFA now wants police officers from Israel to take over the inquiry, according to a report on Monday from The Times of Israel.
The scandal involves an estimated 40 soccer players, league officials, and club owners, the report added. An internal board was called upon to review actions by the suspects. The penalties could mean suspensions of guilty parties.
In a recent statement, IFA Chairman Moshe Zuares called it “a sad day for soccer, but a necessary one.” He said the acts of wrongdoing are “facts” not “rumors or speculation.”
“We think of soccer as pure, but in practice, the results are fixed behind closed doors,” Zuares was quoted by The Times of Israel.
Failed Lie Detectors
IFA prosecutor Gilad Berman explained that the soccer matches were fixed through foreign illegal gambling websites, according to the report. Evidence includes messages sent among club owners, as well as relevant recordings, he said.
Some suspects allegedly failed lie detector tests, while others refused to take them, according to the report.
“This is a sad day for Israeli football. Dozens of officials will be suspended on suspicion of match-fixing in both the current and previous seasons,” Zuares was quoted by the Jerusalem Post.
Sport is Corrupt
Soccer, known in Israel as football, is the nation’s most popular sport, making the scandal more hurtful for fans.
“A well-oiled system that operates in an organized and systematic manner … is fundamentally corrupting the sport we love, including young players,” Berman said in a statement.
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