ID :
185049
Sat, 05/28/2011 - 15:21
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/185049
The shortlink copeid
3 more pro football players under probe in match-fixing scandal
CHANGWON, South Korea, May 28 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors in this southern coastal city said Saturday they were questioning three more pro football players for alleged involvement in a widening game-fixing scandal.
The three, all from Daejeon Citizen club based in the central city of Daejeon, were the latest to be summoned by prosecutors for questioning in the probe that began last week. On Friday, four Daejeon Citizen players appeared for questioning by prosecutors.
Earlier, two players, one from Daejeon Citizen and the other from Gwangju FC, were put under arrest for playing a key role in the scandal in which tens of thousands of dollars are said to have changed hands.
"We actually pushed for arrest warrants for the four but thanks to the club's cooperation, they voluntarily showed up for investigation," a Changwon prosecution official said.
Insiders said Changwon prosecutors initiated the probe, because key brokers in the scandal are based in their area.
According to prosecution officials, those players who were summoned for questioning on Saturday are suspected of receiving about 10 million won (US$9,242) each from a teammate for helping fix the results of an April 6 match between Daejeon Citizen and Pohang Steelers. Daejeon lost 3-0.
The Daejeon teammate arrested, identified by his surname Park, is one of the two players already under arrest. Park, a midfielder, is alleged to have received 120 million won in kickbacks from gambling brokers in return for fixing match results. The other under arrest, a goalkeeper of Gwangju FC, also was suspected of receiving 100 million won.
Prosecutors suspect that Park doled out part of the money to his teammates to fix the April 6 match.
On Thursday, prosecutors said they were investigating Kim Dong-hyun, a former national football team player from Sangju Sangmu Phoenix, indicating that match-fixing was not restricted to a few teams.
Sports gambling in South Korea is gaining popularity as many people bet large amounts of money on football, baseball and other spectator sports through Sports Toto, the only licensed sports lottery in South Korea.
The latest match-fixing scandal comes as a severe blow to the nation's 16-club professional football league which has been struggling with a dwindling attendance.
K-league's attendance has dropped over the past three seasons, while the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has enjoyed record spectators during the same period, according to data.
The three, all from Daejeon Citizen club based in the central city of Daejeon, were the latest to be summoned by prosecutors for questioning in the probe that began last week. On Friday, four Daejeon Citizen players appeared for questioning by prosecutors.
Earlier, two players, one from Daejeon Citizen and the other from Gwangju FC, were put under arrest for playing a key role in the scandal in which tens of thousands of dollars are said to have changed hands.
"We actually pushed for arrest warrants for the four but thanks to the club's cooperation, they voluntarily showed up for investigation," a Changwon prosecution official said.
Insiders said Changwon prosecutors initiated the probe, because key brokers in the scandal are based in their area.
According to prosecution officials, those players who were summoned for questioning on Saturday are suspected of receiving about 10 million won (US$9,242) each from a teammate for helping fix the results of an April 6 match between Daejeon Citizen and Pohang Steelers. Daejeon lost 3-0.
The Daejeon teammate arrested, identified by his surname Park, is one of the two players already under arrest. Park, a midfielder, is alleged to have received 120 million won in kickbacks from gambling brokers in return for fixing match results. The other under arrest, a goalkeeper of Gwangju FC, also was suspected of receiving 100 million won.
Prosecutors suspect that Park doled out part of the money to his teammates to fix the April 6 match.
On Thursday, prosecutors said they were investigating Kim Dong-hyun, a former national football team player from Sangju Sangmu Phoenix, indicating that match-fixing was not restricted to a few teams.
Sports gambling in South Korea is gaining popularity as many people bet large amounts of money on football, baseball and other spectator sports through Sports Toto, the only licensed sports lottery in South Korea.
The latest match-fixing scandal comes as a severe blow to the nation's 16-club professional football league which has been struggling with a dwindling attendance.
K-league's attendance has dropped over the past three seasons, while the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has enjoyed record spectators during the same period, according to data.
