Police have charged 32 individuals in a corruption case involving football match-fixing for betting purposes, following a three-year investigation. The accused face prosecution for offences including fraud, bribery and money laundering.
Some individuals are alleged to have ties to an organised crime group, as confirmed by the Olomouc High Public Prosecutor’s Office (VSZ), which is overseeing the case. Authorities have indicated that the number of accused could rise as investigations continue.
VSZ Chief Public Prosecutor Radim Dragoun stated: “The scope and nature of the criminal activity of each accused differ and therefore its legal assessment, including criteria for higher sentences, also varies.”
Those found guilty of crimes committed for the benefit of an organised criminal group could face prison sentences ranging from nine to 13 years. For less serious offences, the maximum sentence is up to four years.
The National Centre Against Organised Crime (NCOZ) confirmed that it is conducting criminal proceedings, with Europol and Interpol reportedly involved as well.
If illegal activity in football match betting is confirmed, betting company Tipsport may consider itself a harmed party and pursue legal action, including seeking compensation. Tipsport Group, which owns the Tipsport and Chance brands, is one of the largest sponsors of Czech football, supporting top-division teams and serving as the main partner of the first and second leagues.
Tipsport spokesperson Václav Sochor stated: “If the current case damaged the reputation of any entity, it primarily concerns Czech club football, one of our biggest partners. We are monitoring the situation closely, and betting companies are the harmed parties in such cases.”
He added that Tipsport is cooperating with police and routinely reports suspicious matches to authorities, including those in the current investigation. Sochor noted that no fraudulent activity has been definitively proven, so any assessment of potential damages is premature.
Fortuna, another betting operator, stated that it did not detect irregularities in betting volumes or profitability for matches that may have been affected. A company spokesperson said it is not appropriate to comment on potential damages during the ongoing investigation.
The Football Association of the Czech Republic (FAČR) is the initiator that alerted the police to the issue of match fixing
