12 more arrested in ICAC operation ‘Green Grass’ sequel for alleged bribery over football match-fixing and illegal gambling
2024-5-29
The ICAC had earlier neutralised a corruption syndicate in connection with football match-fixing and illegal gambling in operation “Green Grass”, resulting in the prosecution of some individuals. The Commission kicked off operation “Tenacity” this Monday (May 27) and further arrested 12 people after investigation revealed that members of football clubs were bribed for match-fixing to facilitate profiting from illegal gambling. Among the arrestees are the mastermind and backbone members of the scheme.
The 12 arrestees, all men, aged between 24 and 54, are a head coach and two players of a football club participating in the Hong Kong Premier League (HK Premier League); a coach and four players of a football club of the Second Division of Hong Kong (HK Second Division); a player of another HK Second Division football club; and three illegal betting agents, who are respectively head coach and players of three other local football clubs.
In the operation, search warrants were executed by ICAC officers to conduct searches at over 20 premises, including residences of the arrestees. Over 20 individuals, including a number of football players, were also interviewed.
Following ICAC’s operation “Green Grass” mounted in May last year, investigation revealed that the 12 arrestees had allegedly offered and accepted bribes for manipulating the performances of players and match results of the HK Premier League football club and the two HK Second Division football clubs concerned with a view to profiting from placing bets with illegal bookmakers, contravening section 9 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO), and other relevant legislations including the Gambling Ordinance.
ICAC enquiries also revealed that the corrupt practices spanned three seasons since 2021. Players participating in the match-fixing scheme would receive a bribe of several thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars per match.
It is alleged that the two coaches arrested in the operation, by giving secret signals to the football players, manipulated the match results, such as the number of goals or corner kicks, or the match scores, etc. They had also allegedly placed bets through their associates and profited from illegal gambling. Enquiries revealed that the illegal bets placed by individual arrestees in one season amounted to over $1 million.
All arrestees had been released on ICAC bail. As the ICAC inquiries are ongoing, further law enforcement actions will not be ruled out. No further comment on the case will be made by the Commission at this stage.
The ICAC has always strived to maintain local sports integrity through a three-pronged approach of law enforcement, prevention and education. In early 2024, the ICAC provided corruption prevention training to managerial staff from more than 40 National Sports Associations (NSAs), including the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HK Football Association), through the Integrity Leadership Training for NSAs which helped enhance the corruption prevention capabilities of their associated personnel.
To further enhance the governance of NSAs, the ICAC will launch the “Integrity and Corruption Prevention Guide for National Sports Associations”, which provides guidance on the principles and standards of good governance and internal control of NSAs, and corruption prevention advice on various aspects including code of conduct for athletes, coaches and other stakeholders, application of technology to foster integrity and fairness in sports competition.
On corruption prevention in the football sector, the ICAC has maintained close liaison with the HK Football Association and has reviewed the code of ethics and relevant guidelines for the latter twice. In light of the operation “Green Grass”, the ICAC is reviewing corruption prone areas of the HK Football Association to further enhance the integrity management and corruption prevention capabilities of the football sector.
In recent years, the ICAC has organised anti-bribery talks for staff of the HK Football Association and stakeholders of football matches at different divisions, including player and managerial staff of clubs, enhancing their understanding on the POBO, handling of conflict of interest and the importance of fair competition.
The 12 arrestees, all men, aged between 24 and 54, are a head coach and two players of a football club participating in the Hong Kong Premier League (HK Premier League); a coach and four players of a football club of the Second Division of Hong Kong (HK Second Division); a player of another HK Second Division football club; and three illegal betting agents, who are respectively head coach and players of three other local football clubs.
In the operation, search warrants were executed by ICAC officers to conduct searches at over 20 premises, including residences of the arrestees. Over 20 individuals, including a number of football players, were also interviewed.
Following ICAC’s operation “Green Grass” mounted in May last year, investigation revealed that the 12 arrestees had allegedly offered and accepted bribes for manipulating the performances of players and match results of the HK Premier League football club and the two HK Second Division football clubs concerned with a view to profiting from placing bets with illegal bookmakers, contravening section 9 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO), and other relevant legislations including the Gambling Ordinance.
ICAC enquiries also revealed that the corrupt practices spanned three seasons since 2021. Players participating in the match-fixing scheme would receive a bribe of several thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars per match.
It is alleged that the two coaches arrested in the operation, by giving secret signals to the football players, manipulated the match results, such as the number of goals or corner kicks, or the match scores, etc. They had also allegedly placed bets through their associates and profited from illegal gambling. Enquiries revealed that the illegal bets placed by individual arrestees in one season amounted to over $1 million.
All arrestees had been released on ICAC bail. As the ICAC inquiries are ongoing, further law enforcement actions will not be ruled out. No further comment on the case will be made by the Commission at this stage.
The ICAC has always strived to maintain local sports integrity through a three-pronged approach of law enforcement, prevention and education. In early 2024, the ICAC provided corruption prevention training to managerial staff from more than 40 National Sports Associations (NSAs), including the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HK Football Association), through the Integrity Leadership Training for NSAs which helped enhance the corruption prevention capabilities of their associated personnel.
To further enhance the governance of NSAs, the ICAC will launch the “Integrity and Corruption Prevention Guide for National Sports Associations”, which provides guidance on the principles and standards of good governance and internal control of NSAs, and corruption prevention advice on various aspects including code of conduct for athletes, coaches and other stakeholders, application of technology to foster integrity and fairness in sports competition.
On corruption prevention in the football sector, the ICAC has maintained close liaison with the HK Football Association and has reviewed the code of ethics and relevant guidelines for the latter twice. In light of the operation “Green Grass”, the ICAC is reviewing corruption prone areas of the HK Football Association to further enhance the integrity management and corruption prevention capabilities of the football sector.
In recent years, the ICAC has organised anti-bribery talks for staff of the HK Football Association and stakeholders of football matches at different divisions, including player and managerial staff of clubs, enhancing their understanding on the POBO, handling of conflict of interest and the importance of fair competition.