Scandal spreads: Danish players offered money to lose

Aftermath of a comprehensive matchfixingsag in Spanish tennis, with 83 person arrested has now reached Denmark.

the Danish sports confederation (DIF) fear on the background of the case, that attempts at match-fixing is much more widespread than previously thought - also among the Danish players.

How does it sound from Poul Broberg, who is head of Public Affairs at the DIF.

- In Denmark, we have received inquiries from young players who have been approached and offered money to lose on purpose. Unfortunately I have the fear that we are seeing only the tip of the iceberg.

to the extent we have seen in Spain, so there may also be players out there who have been contacted, but have not had the knowledge or courage to come to us, he says.

It is especially the young tennis players at the beginning of the 20's, which, according to the associated is in the spotlight for the people that are chasing economic gain by affecting the match results.

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Picture: Samad Jewel/Ritzazu Scanpix

It is there a special reason to, explains Poul Broberg.

- The young people in their eagerness to begin living of tennis feel tempted, because they many times will be asked some prospects that, if they say yes to a deal, so they will actually earn more money than if they won the whole tournament.

- It is clear that it can tempt some souls. It is a vulnerable group, and therefore also reached out to them from the elements, who want to manipulate them, he says.

- It is highly uncomfortable for them to get a message from a person they do not know, ask them to lose intentionally, " says Poul Broberg.

the reason is stepping up the DIF in collaboration with the French Tennis Federation the prevention of them through education.

so says Thomas Kønigsfeldt, vice-president of the French Tennis Federation and member of The International tennis federation (ITF).

- Together with the sports Federations we have an educational programme about match-fixing for those who play professional tennis.

- It is clear that they need to know how to handle a situation, when there comes a and will offer them money. It is a part of their education. If they for example, do not even report it, they are doing them self a criminal offence, he says.

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Picture: Peter Parks/Ritzazu Scanpix

One of the biggest match-fixing cases on Danish soil took place at Futures tournaments- the third level - in Aarhus and Copenhagen in 2014.

Up to 30 tennis players was via text message, e-mail or on Facebook offered around 30,000 dollars to lose a set on purpose.

the Case was so extensive that the fraud squad for the first time went into a match fixing case in tennis.

According to Thomas Kønigsfeldt Danish tennis players, however, in recent years, has been spared for collusion, since Denmark has held a major international tournament in over three years.

despite the fact it remains important that young players are properly dressed, before making a grand entrance on the international tennisscene, explains Poul Broberg.

- We can be happy that we have a very safe and integritetsfyldt Danish tennisliv, but as soon as we look beyond the country's borders, so there are some unpleasant things that crop up, he says.

Tennis - 10. jan. 2019 - at. 11:29 BIG scandal: Police arrest 28 professional tennis players