International Match Fixing Scandal

julien — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:46:58 +0000

UEFA recently opened an investigation into 26 international matches that may have been fixed. One of the matches on that list was the Belgium/Poland World Cup 2006 qualifying match. That match was held November 15, 2006 at Stade Roi Baudouin. Belgium lost that match 0-1. Bee Wah Lim, Chinese bettor, is supposedly connected with the affair. He was recently arrested for attempting to fix several 2nd Division Bundesliga and Austrian football league matches. Polish defender, Jacek Bak confirmed that he was contacted to give the match away to Belgium.

Platini: “Countries like Belgium all have the ability to participate in a European Championship”

julien — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:42:44 +0000

“I am not worried about the quality by increasing the number of teams. Countries like England, Denmark, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium, Serbia, Ukraine and Bulgaria all have the ability to participate in a European Championship.”

Good or bad news for the European Championship? Last Saturday the idea to increase the amount of teams to 24 in the Euro was unanimously agreed upon by several top officials from the 53 UEFA nations. Supposedly the proposals for this idea were first submitted by the Scottish Football Association and the Football Association of Ireland (Cumann Peile na h-Éireann).

Gordon Smith of the Scottish FA: “It is something that the members of UEFA saw no real disadvantage to. Expanding to 24 teams would only add a few extra days to the competition. There was no downside in terms of revenue and the feeling in the meeting was that everyone was in favour. There is an appetite for it and everyone appreciates the advantages.”

Just a few extra days? I’m sure that is an understatement. UEFA has gradually expanded the amount of teams in the Euro from four to eight and now to today’s 16. The main argument in favor of the addition is that it helps the smaller nations. There were talks that UEFA would just move it up to 20 teams, but now they are close to securing 24 teams: “It was 100 percent, it will happen for 2016, it will boost the smaller nations, and everyone was in a agreement.” -Sergio di Cesare (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio spokesman).

24 teams means that future Euros will have half of the UEFA nations competing! I read that this is what the tournament could have looked with 20 teams:
Group A: Portugal, Czech, Swiss, Turkey, England.
Group B: Germany, Croatia, Poland, Austria, Bulgaria.
Group C: Holland, Italy, France, Romania, Norway.
Group D: Russia, Spain, Greece, Sweden, Scotland.

That actually doesn’t look too bad, but why change what we have now? UEFA keeps trying to add more teams to the Champions League, too. Why can’t they just keep these competitive and exclusive competitions the way they are? Is it really worth it to pander to the “weaker” nations. One reason I love both of those tournaments is because they don’t “give” spots away like the World Cup and UEFA Cup do. Shouldn’t qualifying be difficult?! What the hell UEFA?! I guess UEFA has never heard of the expression “if it is not broken don’t fix it.” I would like to see Belgium in the next Euro, but not if it hurts the tournament. The European Championship is perfect as it is (minus the poor officiating). Aren’t you guys pleased with this year’s Euro? UEFA needs to shut up, listen to the fans, and avoid screwing up one of the best sports tournament in the world.

Belgium World Cup Team Blog » UEFA

International Match Fixing Scandal

Platini: “Countries like Belgium all have the ability to participate in a European Championship”