Brilio.net/en - As the old saying goes: secret, secrets are no fun; unless theyre shared with everyone. Recently, secret files were exposed that documented the widespread phenomenon of match-fixing at the top levels of tennis. At least 16 players who were ranked top 50 in the world , and some Grand Slam winner, have been accused of throwing matches in return for monetary compensation. All of the players however, were allowed to continue playing matches.
The documents were released to the BBC and Buzzfeed and while they may be news to the public, an ex-tennis player from South America has said that match-fixing is commonplace and is a secret that everybody knows.
According to the player, there are three main groups who control betting in tennis, with no bank-to-bank transfers allowed. Each group has representatives who talk to players. Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic said he was offered roughly $200,000 back in 2007 to throw a match in St. Petersburg, Russia. He wasnt approached directly but rather by people who were working with him at the time. The offer was flat out rejected. It made me feel terrible because I dont want to be anyhow linked to this kind of you know, somebody may call it an opportunity. For me, thats an act of unsportsmanship, a crime in sport honesty.
The anonymous tennis player from South America claims that the authorities know exactly who is fixing the matches. He goes on to say: If they wanted to stop it, they could stop it today. Its super easy. They just dont want to do it.
An incentive in the fixed matches has its roots in the minimal pay for players. A study conducted on behalf of the International Tennis Federation in 2013 showed that 45% of the 13,736 players at all professional levels of the sport earned nothing from it and only about 10% covered their costs. Another staggering fact is that the top 1% of the ranked male players, i.e. the top 50 players internationally, earned a staggering 60% of the 113million total prize money pool.
This goes directly against the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) policies, which has previously stated that is has a zero tolerance policy on betting related corruption. The TIU released statements to the BBX, saying: The TIU and the tennis authorities absolutely reject any suggestion that evidence of match-fixing has been suppressed for any reason. The sport has a zero-tolerance approach which is enforced with the full powers of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program, which includes lifetime bans and punitive financial penalties.
No word yet as to which side will have the break point in this match.
(Reported by: Ivana Lucic)