State Security Service arrests footballers for fixing matches
Police say the organised group contacted footballers and concluded agreements with them to lose games. Photo: State Security Service.
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The Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service of Georgia has arrested eight current and three former footballers of three football teams for bribery and fixing matches in both minor and major leagues of Georgia.
Police say the organised group contacted footballers and concluded agreements with them to lose games.
On April 3, 2019, FC Lanchkhuti’s Guria, having taken a bribe from the organised group, lost with two goals down in the second half of the match with FC Tbilisi Merani during the 2nd league of the National Championship.
Similarly, FC Wit Georgia lost two goals down to FC Batumi Dinamo in the major league, according to a preliminary agreement.
The organized group and footballers received 93,500 lari (about $34,061/€30,513) in total.
The detainees face four to six years in jail.
Georgian Football Federation stated it is cooperating with the police and strictly condemns any criminal activities.
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Four have been sent to pretrial detention and seven have been released on bail for fixing matches in the both minor and major leagues of Georgia, receiving 93,500 GEL ($34,061/€30,513) in profits.
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