Originally Published September 30th 2023 for For Green Fields clients
Four times in this recent window, matchfixing has broken through into the mainstream media
There was the Guardian article on Matthew Benham and Brentford and insider gambling that barely scratched the surface of the Bees' reality - a pitiful piece of research that should only be regarded as an example of the analytical weakness of one of the camps organising corruption in the EPL
Then there was Jermaine Jenas calling Rob Jones and the PGMOL referees out over the Arsenal v Spurs game last weekend - these splits are much more damaging to the EPL as insiders informing their followers that the referees are ruining the game is a real problem.
Primarily because it is true - the control of referee selection and the tilt in decision-making last weekend was second to none in its lack of integrity
Then we had the Barcelona bribing the referees in La Liga scandal.
Of course, Real Madrid, FC Bayern, Manchester United, Liverpool, Juventus etc etc don't control referees and this focus is merely part of the war between England and Spain over power plays in the UEFA hierarchy.
It was similarly the case with the concerted campaign against Rubiales over the infamous kiss following the Womens' World Cup Final.
The initial indignation was that Spain had the audacity to win and destroy agent value.
The following response was on the abusive behaviour itself.
And the primary aim was to remove Rubiales from his role at UEFA.
Just gesture politics to impact on realpolitik.
And then there was Samuel Eto'o who allegedly arranged for Victoria United to be promoted to the top flight in Cameroon on behalf of his friend Valentine Nkwain.
Victoria were successfully promoted.
The issue here lies with the fact that Eto'o is President of the Cameroon FA and the police investigation into matchfixing should be welcomed.
All well and good.
But two points...
Each of these news items disappeared from the media almost as quickly as they were published.
Why?
And why is there no focus on the Eto'o structure or the Barcelona structure within English football?
These are valid concerns as one of the camps corrupting the EPL are in overdrive at the moment and the increase in associated matchfixing is marked.
Perhaps Howard can chat with Michael about it in one of those Orwellian shows that they put together.
Because, the old adage that everything levels out over the season does not apply to corruption.
That is the whole point of corruption - to alter reality to proprietary benefit.
© 2023 Football is Fixed
