Interpol finds 12 negotiated matches in the Russian football

Interpol has questions regarding the Russian football Championship matches. Vitaly Mutko, the Minister of Sports, informs that 12 games during the two years of FIFA monitoring were suspicious of being negotiated. He refused to name the “strange matches”, only mentioning that some of those caused repercussions in Russia. Alisher Aminov, the head of the Russian Foundation for development of football, speaks on the air of Business FM on the possible sanctions.

Alisher Aminov, the head of the Russian Foundation for development of football: “The RFU is unable to efficiently fight it. The law enforcers have the main powers to combat corruption. The Ministry of Sports, the RFU each year organize one or other joint interdepartmental task forces. But where are the results? A single criminal case, a single arrest? Cash money to bribe judges, to negotiate matches does not originate from rank-and-file managers and general directors. Only the ownership and the management of the club may sanction the disposal of that corruption money. And these are mainly heads of state corporations and governors, who spend huge sums on transfers and on salary funds”.

V.Mutko himself declares that negotiated matches are possible because the Russian authorities do nothing to combat those. The Minister points out: “They are unable to find the firecracker thrower. And you talk about the negotiated matches”. Is FIFA empowered to act in this situation?

Mikhail Prokopets, Head of the Sports Law Group of the Law Firm "YUST": “FIFA has no powers whatsoever, because the organization that holds the match also conducts the investigation. The only thing FIFA can do is say that there is a suspicion. Then the information is sent to the RFU. And it is the RFU that must convene the group, call the match participants, organize confrontations, and employ the polygraph. The problem is that this is not the first time. FIFA keeps telling us: “We suspect that there are such matches”. And absolutely nothing comes out of it. And nothing will come out of this case either”.

The latest big scandal involving negotiated matches in Russia occurred in connection with the game between Amkar of Perm and Anzhi of Makhachkala. The match was held last November in Perm. The gests won by 2:1. The mass media at that time mentioned the “strange” nature of the game.

See here the source of the publication.