ICAC operation “Tenacity”: Mastermind of illegal gambling corruption syndicate and football club owner among four charged over match-fixing
2025-3-6
In operation “Tenacity” mounted earlier, the ICAC had cracked down a corruption syndicate in connection with football match-fixing and illegal gambling. After conducting intensive investigations, four individuals, including the mastermind of the syndicate and the owner of a football club of the Second Division of Hong Kong (HK Second Division), were charged for allegedly offering bribes totalling over $240,000 to various football players for contriving the match results in the football season 2021/2022 to facilitate illegal gambling business of the syndicate.
The case will be mentioned at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (March 7). As the ICAC inquiries are ongoing, further prosecutions will not be ruled out.
The four defendants charged today (March 6) are Yao Xiaocong, 40, illegal bookmaker; Lo Hong-ming, 30, owner-cum-coach of Fu Moon Athletic Association (Fu Moon), who also played as a defender in matches; So Chun-yin, 32, midfielder of Fu Moon; and Wong Him-chun, 32, illegal betting agent and former football player of Fu Moon.
They face two charges – one of conspiracy to offer advantage to agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; and one of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law.
When the offences took place between April 2021 and August 2022, Fu Moon was a team competing in the football season 2021/2022 of the HK Second Division League under the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HK Football Association). The HK Football Association required all registered football players to comply with its Code of Ethics, including that the players were prohibited from participating in illegal activities such as illegal betting, bribery and match-fixing, etc.
One of the charges alleges that the four defendants had conspired together to defraud the HK Football Association by contriving or attempting to contrive the results of football matches involving Fu Moon held in the football season.
The other charge alleges that Yao, So and Wong had conspired together to offer bribes to various Fu Moon football players registered at the HK Football Association for fixing or attempting to fix the results of football matches involving Fu Moon in the football season.
The ICAC investigation revealed that before the football season, the four defendants discussed and agreed to takeover Fu Moon with a view to facilitating the illegal bookmaking business of the corruption syndicate, while Lo was suspected of receiving $60,000.
It was also alleged that Yao had devised the match-fixing strategy for Fu Moon and manipulated its match results, together with So and Wong, by giving secret signals to football players during the matches. The trio then offered bribes totalling over $240,000 to Fu Moon football players taking part in the scam. Lo and So also received bribes as football players.
It was suspected that the results of seven out of the 12 matches Fu Moon played in the football season were manipulated. In a League Cup organised by the HK Football Association at the end of the football season to substitute matches affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the defendants and their associates continued to manipulate the results of four matches played by Fu Moon.
The HK Football Association rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The ICAC has always strived to maintain local sports integrity through a three-pronged anti-corruption approach comprising law enforcement, prevention and education. In September 2024, the ICAC launched the Integrity and Corruption Prevention Guide for National Sports Associations (NSAs) to help NSAs enhance their governance and internal controls, covering areas including the management and ethical requirements for athletes, coaches and other stakeholders.
In light of the issues revealed by a series of enforcement operations against football match-fixing, the ICAC is closely assisting the HK Football Association in comprehensively reviewing its operation, including match monitoring, management of players and match personnel, and their codes of conduct. The ICAC is providing practical advice and guidelines to further strengthen the integrity management and corruption prevention capabilities of the HK Football Association.
Each year the ICAC would organise anti-bribery talks for staff of the HK Football Association and players and managerial staff of clubs in respect of football matches at different divisions. Last November, the ICAC also participated in the Fair Play Day, a publicity event organised by the HK Football Association, to help promote an integrity culture in the football sector. The ICAC will continue to closely cooperate with the HK Football Association and other stakeholders of the football sector with a view to passing on the value of fair competition to the younger generation.
The case will be mentioned at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (March 7). As the ICAC inquiries are ongoing, further prosecutions will not be ruled out.
The four defendants charged today (March 6) are Yao Xiaocong, 40, illegal bookmaker; Lo Hong-ming, 30, owner-cum-coach of Fu Moon Athletic Association (Fu Moon), who also played as a defender in matches; So Chun-yin, 32, midfielder of Fu Moon; and Wong Him-chun, 32, illegal betting agent and former football player of Fu Moon.
They face two charges – one of conspiracy to offer advantage to agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; and one of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law.
When the offences took place between April 2021 and August 2022, Fu Moon was a team competing in the football season 2021/2022 of the HK Second Division League under the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HK Football Association). The HK Football Association required all registered football players to comply with its Code of Ethics, including that the players were prohibited from participating in illegal activities such as illegal betting, bribery and match-fixing, etc.
One of the charges alleges that the four defendants had conspired together to defraud the HK Football Association by contriving or attempting to contrive the results of football matches involving Fu Moon held in the football season.
The other charge alleges that Yao, So and Wong had conspired together to offer bribes to various Fu Moon football players registered at the HK Football Association for fixing or attempting to fix the results of football matches involving Fu Moon in the football season.
The ICAC investigation revealed that before the football season, the four defendants discussed and agreed to takeover Fu Moon with a view to facilitating the illegal bookmaking business of the corruption syndicate, while Lo was suspected of receiving $60,000.
It was also alleged that Yao had devised the match-fixing strategy for Fu Moon and manipulated its match results, together with So and Wong, by giving secret signals to football players during the matches. The trio then offered bribes totalling over $240,000 to Fu Moon football players taking part in the scam. Lo and So also received bribes as football players.
It was suspected that the results of seven out of the 12 matches Fu Moon played in the football season were manipulated. In a League Cup organised by the HK Football Association at the end of the football season to substitute matches affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the defendants and their associates continued to manipulate the results of four matches played by Fu Moon.
The HK Football Association rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The ICAC has always strived to maintain local sports integrity through a three-pronged anti-corruption approach comprising law enforcement, prevention and education. In September 2024, the ICAC launched the Integrity and Corruption Prevention Guide for National Sports Associations (NSAs) to help NSAs enhance their governance and internal controls, covering areas including the management and ethical requirements for athletes, coaches and other stakeholders.
In light of the issues revealed by a series of enforcement operations against football match-fixing, the ICAC is closely assisting the HK Football Association in comprehensively reviewing its operation, including match monitoring, management of players and match personnel, and their codes of conduct. The ICAC is providing practical advice and guidelines to further strengthen the integrity management and corruption prevention capabilities of the HK Football Association.
Each year the ICAC would organise anti-bribery talks for staff of the HK Football Association and players and managerial staff of clubs in respect of football matches at different divisions. Last November, the ICAC also participated in the Fair Play Day, a publicity event organised by the HK Football Association, to help promote an integrity culture in the football sector. The ICAC will continue to closely cooperate with the HK Football Association and other stakeholders of the football sector with a view to passing on the value of fair competition to the younger generation.