The ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) said it had smashed a betting syndicate that took bribes in the Hong Kong First Division Football League and arrested 23 people, including players and coaching staff of a local team.
The ICAC held a press conference on May 16 to give more details about the case. Kate Cheuk Chi-yan, Chief Investigator of the ICAC’s Operations Department, said that the agency launched “Operation Green Grass” on May 15, mobilizing nearly 100 people to smash a “match-fixing” corruption syndicate involving illegal off-field gambling.
Cheuk pointed out that the group was suspected of using corruption and bribery to manipulate the performance and results of a football team in the league, to profit from off-course betting….