Ex-football player gets 12 months for match-fixing
2014-12-15
A former football player of an athletic association, charged by the ICAC, was today (Monday) sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment at the Eastern Magistracy after being convicted of conspiracy to fix the result of a football match of the First Division League organised by the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA).
Sasa Mus, 28, a former football player of the Happy Valley Athletic Association (HVAA), was found guilty last Friday (December 12) of one count of conspiracy to defraud the HVAA and the HKFA, contrary to the Common Law.
In sentencing, Magistrate Lee Siu-ho remarked that the offence of match-fixing committed by the defendant was of a serious nature, warranting an immediate jail term to serve as a deterrent.
The magistrate said this case was a matter of public interest. The defendant’s illegal act was detrimental to our public life as professional First Division League was part of public life of Hong Kong citizens.
The magistrate added that match-fixing activities should not be allowed or tolerated in Hong Kong, and must be dealt with seriously by the court. Hence, the defendant deserved no reduction in the starting point of 12 months in jail.
The case arose from corruption complaints. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a player of the HVAA, who played in the First Division League match between the HVAA and the Southern District Football Club on November 30, 2013. HVAA led by 1-0 in the first half of the game, but ended up losing 2-4.
During the half-time break of the match, both the team director and the head coach of the HVAA saw their deputy team manager approaching the defendant and talking to him in private in the changing room.
At the second half of the match, the team director and the head coach observed that the performance of the defendant suddenly turned poor.
The court heard that the then technical director of HKFA viewed the video recording of the match, and gave technical comments that in the second half of the match, the standard of the defendant’s performance was far below what was expected from a professional football player.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers, the defendant admitted that he had, upon instruction of the deputy team manager, not played 100%, and that the match must be lost in the second half. He also admitted that he had been a professional footba ll player for a number of years, and knew that he should always play to his best abilities all the time.
All football players registered with the HKFA must observe the rules of conduct for players, the court was told.
The HKFA and the HVAA had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Sabrina See, assisted by ICAC officer Raymond Lam.
Sasa Mus, 28, a former football player of the Happy Valley Athletic Association (HVAA), was found guilty last Friday (December 12) of one count of conspiracy to defraud the HVAA and the HKFA, contrary to the Common Law.
In sentencing, Magistrate Lee Siu-ho remarked that the offence of match-fixing committed by the defendant was of a serious nature, warranting an immediate jail term to serve as a deterrent.
The magistrate said this case was a matter of public interest. The defendant’s illegal act was detrimental to our public life as professional First Division League was part of public life of Hong Kong citizens.
The magistrate added that match-fixing activities should not be allowed or tolerated in Hong Kong, and must be dealt with seriously by the court. Hence, the defendant deserved no reduction in the starting point of 12 months in jail.
The case arose from corruption complaints. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a player of the HVAA, who played in the First Division League match between the HVAA and the Southern District Football Club on November 30, 2013. HVAA led by 1-0 in the first half of the game, but ended up losing 2-4.
During the half-time break of the match, both the team director and the head coach of the HVAA saw their deputy team manager approaching the defendant and talking to him in private in the changing room.
At the second half of the match, the team director and the head coach observed that the performance of the defendant suddenly turned poor.
The court heard that the then technical director of HKFA viewed the video recording of the match, and gave technical comments that in the second half of the match, the standard of the defendant’s performance was far below what was expected from a professional football player.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers, the defendant admitted that he had, upon instruction of the deputy team manager, not played 100%, and that the match must be lost in the second half. He also admitted that he had been a professional footba ll player for a number of years, and knew that he should always play to his best abilities all the time.
All football players registered with the HKFA must observe the rules of conduct for players, the court was told.
The HKFA and the HVAA had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Sabrina See, assisted by ICAC officer Raymond Lam.