Quotes about match-fixing in soccer

Soccer, or football as it is known in most of the world, is being plagued by match-fixing linked to emboldened criminal gangs or corrupt officials. Here are some comments on the global problem:

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“Football is in a disastrous state. … Fixing of matches for criminal gambling fraud purposes is absolutely endemic worldwide … arrogantly happening daily” _ Chris Eaton, director of sport integrity at the International Centre for Sport Security.

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“It sounds like a fairy tale or a novel. It’s absolute craziness, something unbelievable _ but it’s all true” _ Italian prosecutor Roberto Di Martino on a case in which an Italian goalkeeper under pressure to rig a game drugged five of his teammates so they would play badly.

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“Twenty years of hard work I destroyed in just one month” _ Mario Cizmek, a Croatian player convicted of match-fixing.

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“For my cooperation, he offered me 200,000 euros ($261,500). … I said no because my immediate thoughts were of my wife, son and daughter. How could I look them in the eye if I said yes? What kind of husband and father would I be?” _ Former Italian player Simone Farina, who is now a FIFA ambassador for fair play.

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“The widespread belief in Turkey is that at some time or another, each and every team has attempted to fix games” _ Turkish sports commentator Bagis Erten.

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