Footballers and betting agent trio receive jail terms up to 17 months for bribery in match-fixing and illegal gambling
2026-5-29
Two football players and a betting agent were today (May 29) sentenced to jail terms up to 17 months at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts following the ICAC’s Operation “Green Grass” which neutralised a corruption syndicate linked to football match-fixing and illegal gambling. The syndicate bribed football players to rig match results for three clubs participating in the Hong Kong Premier League (HK Premier League) and the First Division of Hong Kong (HK First Division) across two seasons between 2021 and 2023, enabling its members to profit from illegal gambling.
Fok Brian, 32, who played as defender for Hong Kong Football Club (HKFC) and Happy Valley Athletic Association (HVAA) at the material time, was today sentenced to 17 months’ imprisonment. Luciano Silva Da Silva, 38, then defender of Central and Western District Recreation and Sports Association (C&W); and Waheed Mohammad, 29, betting agent, were each jailed for 14 months and four weeks.
Fok was earlier found guilty after trial of five charges – three of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO); and two of conspiracy to cheat at gambling, contrary to section 16(1)(a) of the Gambling Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. The two co-defendants were both convicted of two counts of conspiracy to cheat at gambling.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Peter Yu Chun-cheung remarked that the growth of Hong Kong football relies on honest competitions. He reprimanded the defendants for deliberately manipulating matches, undermining the integrity of Hong Kong sports and the principle of fair play, damaging the reputation of local football and eroding public confidence. The court had to impose immediate custodial sentences on the defendants to reflect the seriousness of the offences and to deter similar offending.
An ICAC spokesperson noted that the Commission has always strived to maintain local sports integrity through a three-pronged anti-corruption approach comprising law enforcement, prevention and education. In 2024, the ICAC launched the Integrity and Corruption Prevention Guide for National Sports Associations (NSAs) to help enhance the governance and internal controls of NSAs. The guide covers areas such as management and ethical requirements for athletes, coaches and other stakeholders, as well as the application of technology to foster integrity and fairness in sports competitions.
In light of the corruption risks revealed by this case, the ICAC has reviewed the code of ethics and relevant guidelines for the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HK Football Association) and completed corruption prevention reviews of the HK Football Association’s corruption prone areas, including the organisation and monitoring of matches, and the registration of football clubs and match personnel. The HK Football Association is reviewing and implementing the ICAC’s recommendations to reduce corruption risks in the relevant procedures.
The ICAC has been organising talks for staff of the HK Football Association and stakeholders involved in football matches at various divisions, including players, coaches, referees and club managerial staff to explain relevant provisions of the POBO and promote fair competition, and strengthen their anti-corruption awareness and capabilities.
2021/2022 HK Premier League – bribes-for-match-fixing
=====
The court heard that between September 2021 and January 2022, Fok played for the HKFC, which participated in the HK Premier League organised by the HK Football Association. In late October 2021, he suggested a teammate, a midfielder, to take part in a scheme to rig the results of football matches involving the HKFC during that season to earn money. Fok offered a bribe of $10,000 per match as a reward for match-fixing to the midfielder, but the latter declined.
In early November 2021, Fok told the teammate and another midfielder of the HKFC that he planned to place bets on illegal gambling regarding the football match between the HKFC and Hong Kong Rangers Football Club (also known as Biu Chun Rangers), scheduled for November 7, 2021. Fok offered bribes of $30,000 and $10,000 to the two footballers respectively to induce them to fix the result by intentionally causing the HKFC to lose the match by a greater margin. The duo rejected Fok’s offers and reported the incidents to the HKFC.
2022/2023 HK First Division – conspiracy to cheat at gambling
=====
The court also heard that Fok played for the HVAA, competing in the HK First Division during the 2022/2023 season, while Silva Da Silva was a defender of the C&W in the same division. Mohammad acted as a betting agent for illegal gambling websites.
Since August 2022, the three defendants, together with another betting agent, schemed to fix match results in the 2022/2023 season to win money through illegal gambling. This included intentionally causing the HVAA and the C&W to lose matches or manipulating the number of goals or corner kicks of the two teams through fraud in the HK First Division.
The ICAC investigation revealed that the three defendants placed illegal bets amounting to at least several tens of thousands of dollars in over 30 matches involving the HVAA and the C&W, based on pre-determined results and match-fixing arrangements. Fok also provided live signals at matches to the betting agents, who attended the games as spectators on site, to facilitate their associates in placing bets accordingly.
The HK Football Association and all football clubs involved rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Stephen Fong, assisted by ICAC officer Kenny Lau.
Fok Brian, 32, who played as defender for Hong Kong Football Club (HKFC) and Happy Valley Athletic Association (HVAA) at the material time, was today sentenced to 17 months’ imprisonment. Luciano Silva Da Silva, 38, then defender of Central and Western District Recreation and Sports Association (C&W); and Waheed Mohammad, 29, betting agent, were each jailed for 14 months and four weeks.
Fok was earlier found guilty after trial of five charges – three of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO); and two of conspiracy to cheat at gambling, contrary to section 16(1)(a) of the Gambling Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. The two co-defendants were both convicted of two counts of conspiracy to cheat at gambling.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Peter Yu Chun-cheung remarked that the growth of Hong Kong football relies on honest competitions. He reprimanded the defendants for deliberately manipulating matches, undermining the integrity of Hong Kong sports and the principle of fair play, damaging the reputation of local football and eroding public confidence. The court had to impose immediate custodial sentences on the defendants to reflect the seriousness of the offences and to deter similar offending.
An ICAC spokesperson noted that the Commission has always strived to maintain local sports integrity through a three-pronged anti-corruption approach comprising law enforcement, prevention and education. In 2024, the ICAC launched the Integrity and Corruption Prevention Guide for National Sports Associations (NSAs) to help enhance the governance and internal controls of NSAs. The guide covers areas such as management and ethical requirements for athletes, coaches and other stakeholders, as well as the application of technology to foster integrity and fairness in sports competitions.
In light of the corruption risks revealed by this case, the ICAC has reviewed the code of ethics and relevant guidelines for the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HK Football Association) and completed corruption prevention reviews of the HK Football Association’s corruption prone areas, including the organisation and monitoring of matches, and the registration of football clubs and match personnel. The HK Football Association is reviewing and implementing the ICAC’s recommendations to reduce corruption risks in the relevant procedures.
The ICAC has been organising talks for staff of the HK Football Association and stakeholders involved in football matches at various divisions, including players, coaches, referees and club managerial staff to explain relevant provisions of the POBO and promote fair competition, and strengthen their anti-corruption awareness and capabilities.
2021/2022 HK Premier League – bribes-for-match-fixing
=====
The court heard that between September 2021 and January 2022, Fok played for the HKFC, which participated in the HK Premier League organised by the HK Football Association. In late October 2021, he suggested a teammate, a midfielder, to take part in a scheme to rig the results of football matches involving the HKFC during that season to earn money. Fok offered a bribe of $10,000 per match as a reward for match-fixing to the midfielder, but the latter declined.
In early November 2021, Fok told the teammate and another midfielder of the HKFC that he planned to place bets on illegal gambling regarding the football match between the HKFC and Hong Kong Rangers Football Club (also known as Biu Chun Rangers), scheduled for November 7, 2021. Fok offered bribes of $30,000 and $10,000 to the two footballers respectively to induce them to fix the result by intentionally causing the HKFC to lose the match by a greater margin. The duo rejected Fok’s offers and reported the incidents to the HKFC.
2022/2023 HK First Division – conspiracy to cheat at gambling
=====
The court also heard that Fok played for the HVAA, competing in the HK First Division during the 2022/2023 season, while Silva Da Silva was a defender of the C&W in the same division. Mohammad acted as a betting agent for illegal gambling websites.
Since August 2022, the three defendants, together with another betting agent, schemed to fix match results in the 2022/2023 season to win money through illegal gambling. This included intentionally causing the HVAA and the C&W to lose matches or manipulating the number of goals or corner kicks of the two teams through fraud in the HK First Division.
The ICAC investigation revealed that the three defendants placed illegal bets amounting to at least several tens of thousands of dollars in over 30 matches involving the HVAA and the C&W, based on pre-determined results and match-fixing arrangements. Fok also provided live signals at matches to the betting agents, who attended the games as spectators on site, to facilitate their associates in placing bets accordingly.
The HK Football Association and all football clubs involved rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Stephen Fong, assisted by ICAC officer Kenny Lau.