• Loading stock data...
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Law

FIFA Wary of Match-Fixing with $100B Expected in World Cup Bets

  • FIFA is working with Sportradar to identify suspicious activity.
  • The World Cup could see more than $100 billion in bets.
Two opposing players kick at ball during World Cup match
FIFA

FIFA already has plenty of controversy on its plate with the World Cup starting on Sunday, but now it’s got another potential problem: match-fixing.

Soccer’s global governing body is working with sports data and technology company Sportradar to identify any signs of unfair play.

  • Sportradar monitors both the betting markets and the games themselves. The company says it tracks 30 billion data sets from 600 global bookmakers.
  • It identified 600 suspicious soccer matches in the first nine months of 2022 alone, mostly in leagues with relatively low pay for players and officials.
  • Global bets on the World Cup are expected to top $100 billion, making suspicious wagers potentially harder to identify.

Though FIFA is being cautious, the World Cup is considered an unlikely target for match-fixing due to players’ ample compensation. FIFA will distribute $440 million in prize money, plus $10,000 per player per day to club teams that have employed World Cup players in the last two years. 

Ugly Live TV Moment

World Cup host Qatar’s Supreme Committee apologized for an incident in which security forces threatened to break the camera of Danish journalists during a live broadcast. 

“Tournament organizers have since spoken to the journalist and issued an advisory to all entities to respect the filming permits in place for the tournament.”

The committee also rejected claims that videos from Doha posted on social media were from fans paid to be there, calling the accusations “disappointing and unsurprising.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Apr 14, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; a general view of the stadium during a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Rays See Sharp Attendance Drop in Temporary Home Amid Uncertainty

Some amenities are praised, but home attendance drops at the temporary site.
Apr 22, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots the ball over Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) during the third quarter of game two of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena.

Kalshi’s Offensive Blitz Continues With Suit Against Maryland

Kalshi previously sued regulators in Nevada and New Jersey.

NFL Draft Hosts: D.C., Denver, Buffalo Among Future Contenders

Pittsburgh will host in 2026, but 2027 and beyond is to be determined.
Rendering for Bridgestone Arena

Predators Unveil $650M Plan to Keep Pace With NHL’s Venue Race

The NHL team has big plans for the 28-year-old Nashville arena.

Featured Today

Apr 5, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg (2) reacts after a three point basket against the Houston Cougars during the first half in the semifinals of the men's Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome.

Cooper Flagg’s Timing Is Perfect for the NBA and USA Basketball

The projected No. 1 pick just declared for the draft.
Apr 14, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Paige Bueckers is interviewed by ESPN after being selected with the number one overall pick to the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards
April 21, 2025

ESPN’s WNBA Coverage Mirrors the League’s Stunning Growth

“I don’t think we stand still in our coverage of women’s sports,” says Rowe.
Mar 16, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrates with guard Isaiah Joe (11) after score in the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum.
April 20, 2025

Unorthodox OKC: The Thunder Redefined Tanking to Become NBA’s Best

A rebuild years in the making has OKC in the driver’s seat.
Mar 13, 2020; Augusta, GA, USA; The front entrance at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Friday morning. The Masters Tournament has been postponed due to coronavirus concerns.
opinion
April 20, 2025

What’s It Like to Play Augusta? A Day on the World’s Most..

Inside a round at the most exclusive club in the world.
Jan 20, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart (79) reacts after allowing a goal against the Colorado Avalanche in the first period at Wells Fargo Center

Trial Begins for Five Ex-NHL Canadians Accused of Sexual Assault

The players were on Canada’s junior national team during the alleged incident.
Reilly Opelka
April 12, 2025

Tennis Player Testifies ATP Threatened Him For Supporting Lawsuit

The tour denied the allegation in a Friday court hearing.
Kendrick Lamar
April 18, 2025

Drake Lawsuit Says Kendrick Lamar Defamed Him At Super Bowl

Drake says taking out the word “pedophile” didn’t erase the defamation.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

This week, Two-time Super Bowl Champion and CBS NFL analyst Logan Ryan joins us to talk the business of sports on our third installment of Portfolio Players.
NWSL
April 3, 2025

Boston Beats Legal Challenge to $200 Million NWSL Stadium Renovation

Demolition had begun before the case went to trial.
A view of the FanDuel Sportsbook betting area at Belterra Park Cincinnati.
April 2, 2025

FanDuel’s PE Backers Fire Back at Founder’s Legal Fight Over 2018 Sale

The legal dispute stems from the 2018 sale of 61% of FanDuel.
Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; The ESPN logo at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
exclusive
March 22, 2025

ESPN Is Accused of Harassment, Retaliation in Legal Letter From Exec Editor

Cristina Daglas has been on administrative leave since January.
A set of trading cards
March 19, 2025

New Suit Alleges Fanatics ‘Monopoly’ Increased Trading Card Prices 

The suit also names the NBA, NHL, and NFL as defendants.